News

World’s largest mission to accelerate species discovery reveals extraordinary new life forms from some of Earth’s most extreme and unexplored environments.

The Ocean Census drove species discovery forward in year 3 through global expeditions, an expanded science network, and the launch of the Ocean Census NOVA data platform.

A new trematode, Lobosorchis labri, was discovered in wrasses at Ningaloo Reef, representing the first Lobosorchis species known from wrasses rather than snappers. Evidence suggests it evolved through a recent host switch, becoming specialised to Hemigymnus wrasses.

This World Art Day (15th April), the Ocean Census is highlighting the enduring craft of scientific sketches. In an era dominated by digital documentation, this hand-drawn approach to specimen identification demonstrates that careful, observational practice remains as vital as ever in the discovery and understanding of new species.

A taxonomic reassessment of Terebra straminea clarifies species identities, validates two historical synonyms, describes two new large-bodied species, and supports the reinstatement of Terebra myuros as a distinct species, refining classification within the group.

A new Nihonia species is described from Western Australia and compared with Nihonia maxima Sysoev, 1997, which was described from Indonesia.

Marine taxonomists from CSIRO and the Ocean Census have identified more than 110 new fish and invertebrate species from the Coral Sea, with that number likely to exceed 200 as more cryptic species are identified. 

Re-examination of the Buccinum assimile syntype revealed a long-standing misidentification, leading to the description of Aplus dissimilis sp. nov. and the synonymisation of B. assimile with Aplus scacchianus, clarifying species identities.

As for previous years, the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) has again released its annual list of the top-ten marine species described by researchers during the past year to coincide with World Taxonomist Appreciation Day on March 19th.