Researchers at the American Museum of Natural History have announced the discovery of more than 70 new species this year, spanning dinosaurs, mammals, insects, and even a novel mineral. Many of these finds emerged from reexaminations of long-held museum specimens, highlighting the untapped potential of natural history collections. The discoveries underscore the ongoing richness of Earth's biodiversity amid modern technological advances.
In a remarkable year for biodiversity research, scientists at the American Museum of Natural History unveiled over 70 species previously unknown to science. These include a diverse array of life forms, from ancient feathered dinosaurs to contemporary insects and deep-river fishes. The findings, announced in December 2025, demonstrate the museum's pivotal role in global exploration, with contributions from both recent fieldwork in remote areas and detailed studies of specimens collected decades ago.
Advances in technology and evolving scientific methods have enabled the recognition of these overlooked species. For instance, a Jurassic reptile named Breugnathair elgolensis, featuring python-like teeth and a gecko-like body, was unearthed on Scotland's Isle of Skye, offering insights into the origins of lizards and snakes. Similarly, two feathered dinosaurs from 125-million-year-old deposits in China—one with preserved mammal remains in its stomach—redefine understandings of early avian evolution.
Mammals and fish also featured prominently. A tiny long-nosed mouse opossum, Marmosa chachapoya, was identified from Peru's high-altitude Andes, named after the ancient Chachapoya culture. In Africa's Congo River, two specialized suckermouth catfishes, Chiloglanis kinsuka and Chiloglanis wagenia, adapted to turbulent rapids, were distinguished despite living just a mile apart along 1,600 kilometers of waterway.
Insects dominated the count, with 47 new species, including a 'teddy bear' bee from Vietnam and fossil bumble bees carrying ancient pollen. Marine life added variety: a frond-like sea anemone, Endolobactis simoesii, from Mexico's Atlantic coast, and a crinoid fossil, Anticosticrinus natiscotecensis, from Quebec's Anticosti Island.
"Together, these discoveries highlight the remarkable richness of Earth's biodiversity and underscore the enduring value of natural history collections," stated Cheryl Hayashi, the museum's Senior Vice President and Provost of Science. Specimens preserved over generations continue to yield surprises, reminding researchers of the vast unknowns in planetary life.
Other notables include a new mineral, Lucasite-(La), from Russian volcanic rock, and arachnids like a venomous scorpion from Iran with pharmaceutical potential. These revelations, published across journals like Nature and Zootaxa, affirm that major breakthroughs persist even without venturing into the wild.