We've still got plenty to learn about our world

Despite the extent to which we’ve scoured and explored the planet we call home, it may be refreshing to know we’re still learning. And yes, there are still plenty of new things under the sun — or at least new to us.

In fact, in the past decade, an estimated 200,000 new species have been discovered.

Unique and intriguing as each newly discovered species may be, a handful — 10 to be exact — are selected annually by an international committee of environmentalists, biologists and the like, singled out from their peers for being particularly intriguing, curious, weird, and just plain cool.

Dubbed the “Top 10 New Species,” the Friday release of the 2017 top 10 also marks the 10th year the list has been compiled by the International Institute for Species Exploration.

Admittedly, the critters (and two plants) to make the cut this year — drawn from a group of approximately 18,000 newbies in the 12-month period — aren’t particularly cuddly.

Quite the contrary, they might seem a little creepy, but are endowed with some nifty and unusual characteristics.

Not ranked in any particular order, the 2017 Top 10 New Species are:

• Eriovixia gryffindori — Note the “gryffindori” reference. The body of this itsy bitsy (less than a tenth of an inch) spider found in India is shaped like the Sorting Hat in the infamous world of Harry Potter and named in ode to the fantasy-hat’s original owner, Godric Gryffindor.

• Eulophophyllum kirki — Hailing from Borneo, this 1 1/2 inch, leaf-shaped katydid relies on its color and shape to mimic its surroundings and blend. Males are green and females are “brilliant pink.”

• Gracilimus radix — Drawn from the Latin word for “root,” this slender Indonesian rat is unique because — unlike its carnivorous rat family members — it’s an omnivore, relying on plant and animal food sources, and yes, roots.

• Illacme tobini — Discovered in California, this creepy millipede lives in cracks and fissures below the soil. While the leg-count is only 414, researchers warn it will increase, since the creature continues to grow new body segments, and legs, throughout its life.

• Pheidole drogon — This spiny Papua New Guinea ant is named for Drogon, a ferocious dragon from Game of Thrones. Worker and soldier ants of the species have large heads and mandibles that allow them to crush seeds and other hard-to-eat items.

• Potamotrygon rex — Otherwise known as P. Rex, but you can just call it “King,” this colorful freshwater stingray in Brazil measures 43 inches long and scientists speculate some may weigh over 40 pounds.

• Scolopendra cataracta — Diving into water and running along the bottoms of rivers and streams with the greatest of ease, this Southeast Asian centipede is named with the Latin word for “waterfall.” Black with 20 sets of legs and about 8 inches long, it’s amphibious abilities are “unprecedented” among others of its kind.

• Solanum ossicruentum — Named by 150 Pennsylvania seventh-grade science students, the Latin moniker of this Australian bush tomato translates to “bony” and “bloody.” When cut, the plant’s flesh turns bright red as if bleeding and its mature fruit is leathery and bony.

• Telipogon diabolicus — Diabolical, this Colombian orchid has male and female flower parts that cause its blooms to resemble depictions of the devil’s head.

• Xenoturbella churro — Living deep below the surface in the Gulf of California, this 4-inch Mexican marine worm with a hankering for clams and other mollusks looks prehistoric and more than a little bread-like, hence being named for the fried pastry.

Source: http://www.esf.edu/top10/

A glimpse of the bizarre and intriguing, the Top 10 List of New Species serves as a yearly reminder we’ve still got plenty to learn about our world.

Sharna Johnson is always searching for ponies. You can reach her at: [email protected]