New species of animals discovered per year. Recently discovered animal species. Scaleless blackfish
And many people think that the era of discovery is over. with the Great Geographic, yes, it’s already complicated, but in Nature there is still a lot of things that we have never seen in the entire time of studying our Mother Earth.
Here are 25 recently discovered animals you haven't seen yet.
25. Fish Lasiognathus Dinema
Lasiognathus Dinema is a species of ray-finned fish that lives in the deep waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico. This fish can be found at a depth of 1000 to 1500 m.
24. Ruby Sea Dragon (Phyllopteryx Dewysea)
Phyllopteryx Dewysea, also known as the ruby sea dragon, is a small marine fish that lives off the coast of Western Australia. The species was first described in 2015, making it only the third known species of sea dragon and the first to be discovered in 150 years.
23. Cancer Gramastacus Lacus
Gramastacus Lacus is a new species of freshwater crayfish recently discovered in New South Wales, Australia. One of the smallest crayfish in the world, representatives of this species reach a maximum weight of only 7 g.
22. Owl Strix Hadorami
Strix Hadorami, also known as the Desert Owl, is a recently discovered species of owl. This nocturnal bird is found in deserts, semi-deserts, rocky gorges and palm groves in North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, feeding on field, mice and large insects.
21. Spider Cebrennus Rechenbergi
Also known as the Moroccan tumbling spider, Cebrennus Rechenbergi is a flexible arachnid distinguished by its unique defense technique. Whenever it feels threatened, the spider will roll out of danger.
20. Fish Paracheilinus Paineorum
Parachilinus Paineorum, discovered in Central Indonesia back in 2016, is a new, beautifully colored wrasse species.
19. Ant Dracula
Recently, six new species of mysterious blood-sucking ants have been identified in Madagascar. Known as Dracula ants, these amazing ants suck the blood of their young in a process called "non-destructive cannibalism."
18. Arapaima
One of the world's largest, endangered, and most enigmatic freshwater fish, the Arapaima was already known to scientists, but in 2016, an entirely new species of these strange Amazonian creatures was discovered in several regions of southwestern Guyana.
17. Gecko Geckolepis Megalepis
Geckolepis Megalepis is a gecko species recently discovered in northern Madagascar. When attacked by a predator, the gecko can shed its huge scales for lizards as a defense mechanism, leaving the predator with a mouth full of scales in its place.
16. Scaleless blackfish
This bizarre scaleless black fish with fangs was discovered in 2015 by scientists in collaboration with the State Association for Scientific and Applied Research? (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization) in a volcano off the coast of Australia.
15. Himalayan Thrush
The Himalayan Thrush is a bird species described in 2016 and separated from the Alpine Thrush. This tree-dwelling species has shorter legs, tail, and wings but a longer beak than its alpine counterpart, and the thrush uses its short legs and tail to better maneuver in the forest.
14. Millipede Illacme tobini
Discovered in the marble caves of Sequoia National Park in California, this centipede has taken scientists by surprise. Named Illacme tobini, this creature has 414 legs, four penises, and secretes poisonous substances as a defense.
13. Changing Rain Frog (Pristimantis mutabilis)
Nicknamed the "punk rocker," this marble-sized amphibian was discovered deep in the rainforest of Ecuador and is the first known amphibian that can change skin texture. The changing rain frog has the incredible ability to change from smooth skin to spiky skin in minutes.
12. Cryptelytrops rubeus snake
Cryptelytrops rubeus, also known as the ruby-eyed snake, is a recently described species of snake native to the dense evergreen forests of southern Vietnam and eastern Cambodia.
11. Ninja Shark
Found in the Eastern Pacific, the ninja shark is black with white markings around the eyes and mouth. In addition to coloration, it differs from other deep-sea sharks in that it lacks glow-in-the-dark organs.
10 Maratus Bubo Spider
Maratus Bubo is a recently discovered species of Australian jumping spider. The name "bobo" comes from the Latin genus name for the great horned owl (Bubo Virginianus), and was taken from the fact that the spider has an owl-like image on the spinal plate.
9. Medusa Dendrogramma Enigmatica
Found on the seafloor in Victoria, Australia, Dendrogramma Tnigmatica is a strange multicellular animal that researchers believe could be related to jellyfish, corals and sea anemones.
8 Gran Canaria Blue Finch
It used to be thought to be the same species as the larger Tenerife blue finch, but the Gran Canaria blue finch is the newest bird in Europe. This beautifully colored bird lives in the pine forests of Gran Canaria.
7. Wasp Deuteragenia Ossarium
Deuteragenia Ossarium is a species of wasp recently discovered in China. The insect got its name from the bone cemetery or ossuary, because the females build the nest and protect it with the help of dead ants, since the latter secrete chemicals that deter predators.
6. Frog limnonectes larvaepartus
Found on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, limnonectes larvaepartus is a large frog that ranges in color from brown to gray. It is the only frog species in the world that produces live tadpoles.
5. Stick insect Phryganistria Tamdaoensis
Phryganistria tamdaoensis is a recently discovered stick insect belonging to the giant stick insect family, although it reaches "only" 23 cm in length. The species got its name from the Tam Dao National Park in northwestern Vietnam, where it was discovered.
4. Slug Phyllodesmium Acanthorhinum
Phyllodesmium Acanthorhinum, discovered off the coast of Japan in 2015, is a new species of sea slug. This gastropod marine mollusk is known for its bright, luminous coloration.
Sporting a glorious red beard, the red-bearded titi is probably one of the most striking monkeys in the wild. It was officially discovered in 2008 in the Colombian Amazon forest. However, it is believed that these monkeys were first discovered in 1960. They are critically endangered as there are only 250 left in the wild.
Nothing fills a movie theater faster than a film about the discovery of a new species. It doesn't even matter if this species is friendly or not, whether it jumps out of a person's stomach or remains forgotten by its spaceship (as in the movie "Alien"). People will enjoy watching the movie even if the new species looks scary instead of charming, or if he came to Earth to destroy it or to experiment on a couple of earthlings. If a new species doesn't look like a human, it's safe to say that people will want to look at it.
Despite our fascination with unusual animals born in the minds of writers, we often forget the new species that actually exist, the ones that scientists discover every year around the world. The voices against genetically engineered foods grow louder every year (do people really like watermelons with seeds more?) and drown out reports of the discovery of new species, with the result that Mother Nature does not receive any reverence for her merits in creating these new creatures.
None of the new species discovered in 2015 have been found in the US, yet US residents will be able to see them at nature science fairs across the country. At least on the Internet you can find hundreds of photos of these species and once again admire the most breathtaking natural wonders in the world.
10. Striped monitor lizards (Water Monitor Lizards)
Exploring the black market can be dangerous, especially in other countries where you stand out as a foreigner and don't have any acquaintances. But sometimes the risk is worth it. Rafe Brown, curator at the University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute, recently visited the black market in Manila, Philippines with his friends and came across two new species of banded monitor lizards. The monitor lizards for sale were genetically exclusive species previously unknown in the world of science. Despite the fact that most of the characteristics of lizards, such as body shapes and sizes, were similar to others, they are endemic to a separate island and an isolated peninsula. Most likely, nothing was known about them for many years.
9. Jumper (Titi Monkey)
If you ask someone to describe the Amazonian rainforest, you'll likely hear a bunch of words like lush, green, huge ecosystem, cascading vegetation like a huge multi-level jadeite palace teeming with thousands of stunning animal species. While this description is certainly true, this wondrous jungle also includes white sandy forests. These forests, located on both banks of the Blanco River in Peru, are very rare and occupy only one percent of the entire Peruvian Amazon. Last year, a team from the Field Museum of Natural History documented an astounding 1,751 new species in the region in 17 days. Among these species is a new species of monkey. According to Corine Vriesendorp, environmentalist and conservationist, Jumper "Either a new species or a previously unknown color variant of the copper jumper (Callicebus cupreus). And you were only in the souvenir shop during your vacation!
Source 7A bird species documented 15 years later
While the Amazon rainforest is a favorite pilgrimage destination for scientists, the Indonesian island of Sulawesi is largely underestimated in terms of its potential for finding new species, especially in the field of ornithology. The Sulawesian striped tyrant was first seen in 1997. However, the new look of this chanter birds was recognized as real only in 2014. In fact, the new species is only distantly related to the gray striped tyrant it was originally thought to be. The new species has shorter wings, a shorter tail, a more twisted beak and more subtle sounds than its closest relative.
6. Fororacos or terrible bird from ancient times is still frightening
We all admired in museums the skeletons of giant carnivorous birds that lived on Earth millions of years ago. They reached 3 meters in height and roamed the plains and mountains, untouched by smaller predators. Scientists recently finished assembling the skeleton, 90 percent of which they found in 2010 in Mar del Plata, Argentina. The aptly named dire bird had unique vocal and anatomical features. You can bet that dire birds will be in horror movies soon.
5. Tiny and adorable lizards found in the Andes
Three new lizard species that look even more adorable than the dragons from the animated film How to Train Your Dragon have been discovered in the Andes of Peru and Ecuador. The body length of these lizards ranges from 5 to 10 centimeters, and their curious eyes, richly decorated skin and rows of multi-colored spikes make them simply irresistible. Before this discovery, only 12 species of this family were known, and five of them were discovered in the last seven years.
4. Miniature frog with changing skin surface
In a remote foggy forest in the Andes of Ecuador, a frog has been discovered that is no larger than the size of a human fingernail. The little amphibian, known as the mutable narrowmouth, can change its skin texture from scratchy to smooth right before your eyes, in just a few minutes. It was discovered in the Reserva Las Gralarias, a Mecca of biodiversity, where new species of butterflies and birds, as well as a species of unique glass frog, were discovered back in 2012.
3The prehistoric crocodile ate shellfish
The types of crocodiles known to science are certainly scary. Recently, however, the remains of a crocodile with cone-shaped teeth and a shovel-shaped mouth were found in the Amazon in the northeast of Peru. It is believed that this species of crocodiles lived on our planet about 13 million years ago in the primitive swamps of Peru. According to scientists, this crocodile used its unique mouth to scoop up the molluscs it ate. The mouth of this crocodile, pictured above, was flat and wide, while the crocodiles we are used to have narrow mouths.
2 Ancient Owl Was Unique
For many years a beautiful view owls remained included in a group of owls called the tawny owl. It fell victim to misidentification and was incorrectly included in the category of the Golden-eyed Desert Owl. Scientists rechecked the bird's feathers and body characteristics, as well as its DNA, and found that its DNA differs by about 10 percent from that of the tawny owl. Wow!
1. Replenishment in the group of twinkling oonopid spiders
Researchers in Madagascar recently celebrated the discovery of five new species of tiny twinkling spiders. The body length of these small shimmering arachnids ranges from 1 to 3 millimeters. They have even been separated into a separate genus called Volborattella based on their unique appearance, including genitalia that are unlike those of their closest relatives. Can you tell the difference between the sexes of the spiders in the photo?
These scientists-researchers are just great!
10. Striped monitor lizards (Water Monitor Lizards)Exploring the black market can be dangerous, especially in other countries where you stand out as a foreigner and don't have any acquaintances. But sometimes the risk is worth it. Rafe Brown, curator at the University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute, recently visited the black market in Manila, Philippines with his friends and came across two new species of banded monitor lizards. The monitor lizards for sale were genetically exclusive species previously unknown in the world of science. Despite the fact that most of the characteristics of lizards, such as body shapes and sizes, were similar to others, they are endemic to a separate island and an isolated peninsula. Most likely, nothing was known about them for many years.
9. Jumper (Titi Monkey)
If you ask someone to describe the Amazonian rainforest, you'll likely hear a bunch of words like lush, green, huge ecosystem, cascading vegetation like a huge multi-level jadeite palace teeming with thousands of stunning animal species. While this description is certainly true, this wondrous jungle also includes white sandy forests. These forests, located on both banks of the Blanco River in Peru, are very rare and occupy only one percent of the entire Peruvian Amazon. Last year, a team from the Field Museum of Natural History documented an astounding 1,751 new species in the region in 17 days. Among these species is a new species of monkey. According to Corine Vriesendorp, environmentalist and conservationist, Jumper "Either a new species or a previously unknown color variant of the copper jumper (Callicebus cupreus). And you were only in the souvenir shop during your vacation!
8 The New Indochinese Worm
Source 7A bird species documented 15 years later
While the Amazon rainforest is a favorite pilgrimage destination for scientists, the Indonesian island of Sulawesi is largely underestimated in terms of its potential for finding new species, especially in the field of ornithology. The Sulawesian striped tyrant was first seen in 1997. However, a new species of this songbird was recognized as real only in 2014. In fact, the new species is only distantly related to the gray striped tyrant it was originally thought to be. The new species has shorter wings, a shorter tail, a more twisted beak and more subtle sounds than its closest relative.
6. Fororacos or terrible bird from ancient times is still frightening
We all admired in museums the skeletons of giant carnivorous birds that lived on Earth millions of years ago. They reached 3 meters in height and roamed the plains and mountains, untouched by smaller predators. Scientists recently finished assembling the skeleton, 90 percent of which they found in 2010 in Mar del Plata, Argentina. The aptly named dire bird had unique vocal and anatomical features. You can bet that dire birds will be in horror movies soon.
5. Tiny and adorable lizards found in the Andes
Three new species of lizards that look even more adorable than the dragons from the animated film How to Train Your Dragon have been discovered in the Andes of Peru and Ecuador. The body length of these lizards ranges from 5 to 10 centimeters, and their curious eyes, richly decorated skin and rows of colorful spikes make them simply irresistible. Before this discovery, only 12 species of this family were known, and five of them were discovered in the last seven years.
4. Miniature frog with changing skin surface
In a remote foggy forest in the Andes of Ecuador, a frog has been discovered that is no larger than the size of a human fingernail. The little amphibian, known as the mutable narrowmouth, can change its skin texture from scratchy to smooth right before your eyes, in just a few minutes. It was discovered in the Reserva Las Gralarias, a Mecca of biodiversity, where new species of butterflies and birds, as well as a species of unique glass frog, were discovered back in 2012.
3The prehistoric crocodile ate shellfish
The types of crocodiles known to science are certainly scary. Recently, however, the remains of a crocodile with cone-shaped teeth and a shovel-shaped mouth were found in the Amazon in the northeast of Peru. It is believed that this species of crocodiles lived on our planet about 13 million years ago in the primitive swamps of Peru. According to scientists, this crocodile used its unique mouth to scoop up the molluscs it ate. The mouth of this crocodile, pictured above, was flat and wide, while the crocodiles we are used to have narrow mouths.
2 Ancient Owl Was Unique
For many years, the beautiful species of owl remained included in a group of owls called the tawny owl. It fell victim to misidentification and was incorrectly included in the category of the Golden-eyed Desert Owl. Scientists rechecked the bird's feathers and body characteristics, as well as its DNA, and found that its DNA differs by about 10 percent from that of the tawny owl. Wow!
1. Replenishment in the group of twinkling oonopid spiders 
Researchers in Madagascar recently celebrated the discovery of five new species of tiny twinkling spiders. The body length of these small shimmering arachnids ranges from 1 to 3 millimeters. They have even been separated into a separate genus called Volborattella based on their unique appearance, including genitalia that are unlike those of their closest relatives. Can you tell the difference between the sexes of the spiders in the photo?
Every year, scientists go on expeditions to the jungle and desert, and scrupulously examine museum collections in the hope of discovering, reports Mashable.
So, for example, in 2015, experts discovered an ancient spiny worm with thirty legs, living about 518 million years ago on the territory of modern China, as well as a ruby sea dragon, which is now found off the coast of Australia.
However, at present, the minds of scientists are more occupied with a few species of animals that are the most strange, and worthy of deep study. These representatives of the fauna are now living, and already extinct. However, this does not diminish the relevance of their study.
The smallest snail in the world
A tiny snail lives in China on limestone hills and is today recognized as the smallest representative of its kind. Its dimensions, on average, are 0.86 mm. Individuals of this species are so small that it is very difficult to see them with the naked eye, and scientists had to use a microscope to study them.
wasp dementor
This type of wasp is found in Southeast Asia and lives in the Mekong River Valley, on the Indian Peninsula. The individual preys exclusively on cockroaches.
The poison that the wasp injects into the body of the victim during the attack turns it into a zombie. At the same time, the cockroach remains alive, although it loses the ability to move. As a result, the insect turns into a source of fresh food for wasp larvae.
Mammals that grab food like a vacuum cleaner
Animal species, the size of a hippopotamus, are now extinct. According to scientists, these creatures lived on earth 23 million years ago. Paleontologists note that the mammal did not chew food, but sucked vegetation like a vacuum cleaner. The remains of the animal testify that it had a long snout and fangs. And according to the structure of the jaw, experts managed to establish that it ate only plant foods.
Spider "Skeletorus"
This species of spider was discovered in early 2015. The individual is a species of peacock spider and lives in southeastern Australia. It is noteworthy that the stripes of white-blue pigment that adorn its body resemble a skeleton.
ancient sea scorpion
Scientists at Yale University have discovered in the United States the remains of the oldest species of crustaceans, which are approximately 460 million years old. The shell scorpion or sea scorpion is a species of fossil arthropod.
Representatives of this species could reach a length of up to 2 meters and are considered the largest arthropods that have ever lived on earth.
snake with four legs
Scientists have discovered the remains of this species in Brazil. The snake, which had four legs, lived in holes on the land of Gondwana about 126 million years ago.
The creature could freely move its four legs, while they were not a "means of transportation" for the snake, but simply helped it to hold the victim during strangulation.
Rat with pig nose
Scientists have discovered a new species of rat in Indonesia and named Hyorhinomys stuempkei ("pig-nosed rat"). These rats have very large ears for their size, as well as an unusual shape of the lower teeth, resembling fangs.
Previously Korrespondent.net noted that oceanologists discovered off the coast of Mexico.
Our planet seems quite familiar and studied up and down. But only in the last 10 years, biologists have described more than a hundred thousand new species of animals and plants. "Around the World" selected the 20 most interesting
In the news flow, now and then there are reports of the disappearance of another species, about the Red Books and the struggle to preserve species diversity. In fact, taxonomic reference books only swell from year to year: so many new species are discovered that they do not even have time to properly describe them. And among the discoverers are not only biologists. So, during the filming of Titanic, James Cameron became the "father" of a whole new family of shrimp - simply because the ocean depths are almost unexplored, and almost anyone can become the author of the discovery of a new species. Experts believe that hundreds of thousands of species of fish, molluscs and crustaceans (not to mention protozoa) still unknown to us live in the waters of the World Ocean. On land, new species are also constantly being discovered, and this is not at all necessarily a small bug or bacterium - a few years ago, for example, by analyzing DNA, elephants from Borneo were recognized as a separate subspecies.
International Species Institute(IISE) , located in the American city of Syracuse (New York), since 2008, has annually published a rating of the 10 most remarkable species of living beings (including extinct organisms) described over the past 12 months. With the help of experts IISE"Around the World" has collected the top 20 over the past decade.
giant tortoise
Chelonoidis donfaustoi
People have been familiar with Galapagos, or elephant, turtles for a long time: it is known that in the 19th century, Charles Darwin's observations of different populations of elephant turtles made the most serious contribution to his theory of evolution. But only in 2015, the population of these animals on the island of Santa Cruz (Galapagos archipelago) was separated into a separate species based on genetic and morphological data. It is named after the ranger of the Galapagos National Park Fausto Llerena Sánchez (Don Fausto), who gave this work 43 years.
scary fisherman
Lasiognathus dinema
In 2015, a new species of deep-sea anglerfish was discovered in the Gulf of Mexico at a depth of about one and a half kilometers. Like all anglers (or sea devils), Lasiognathus dinema- a predator that lures victims into the light at the end of its fishing rod (a modified upper fin with a colony of luminescent bacteria).
beetle toy
Megaceras briansaltini
Belongs to the subfamily of hollows as part of the lamellar mustache family. Discovered in 2008 in Peru (generally, Megaceras found only in South and Central America). Surprisingly similar to the rhinoceros beetle Dima from the Disney movie "The Adventures of Flick", filmed eight years before the opening Megaceras briansaltini.
psychedelic clown
Histiophryne psychedelica
Discovered in 2008 off the coast of Ambon Island in Indonesia. This representative of the clown family does not actually swim, but jumps along the bottom, pushing off from it with modified pectoral fins (more like paws) and creating jet thrust by sharp ejection of water from the gill slits.
sea pony
Hippocampus satomiae
The tiny - 1.5 cm long and 1 cm high - seahorse was discovered in 2008. Today it is the smallest representative of the needle family. (Syngnathidae). Named after the diver Satomi Onishi, who first caught this funny fish. "Pony" lives at a depth of 15-20 meters near the island of Derawan (Indonesia). Seahorses are viviparous - in particular, there were eight developing embryos in the brood pouch of a caught specimen.
sneezing pitek
Rhinopithecus strykeri
The Burmese snub-nosed monkey was discovered in 2010. Due to the strange structural features of the nose, the animal sneezes during the rain: water is poured into the nostrils, and the poor rhinopithecine has to seek refuge, because with such a nose it will not take long to choke.
fire cockroach
Lucihormetica luckae
Perhaps this species has already become extinct, because no one has come across new specimens since 1939. Lived in Ecuador. On the chest there are two luminescent spots of a bacterial nature. This is the only known case of protective mimicry using bioluminescence (the cockroach disguised itself as poisonous beetles from the genus of fire-bearing click beetles).
nanofrog
Paedophryne amanuensi
The frog, endemic to Papua New Guinea, was discovered in 2009, and in 2013 it was recognized as the smallest vertebrate animal on Earth (about 7 mm). It is about 3000 times shorter than the largest vertebrate - the blue whale.
Spider Darwin
Caaerostris darwini
A small (3 to 6 mm) spider living in Madagascar. The surface area of its trapping net (web) can reach almost three square meters. The impact strength of its web rises up to 520 MJ/m 3 , which is twice the impact strength of previously known webs and 10 times that of the Kevlar material. The spider was found in 2001, but was only described in 2009 - this event was timed to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the publication of Charles Darwin's book On the Origin of Species (hence its name).
Raccoon in the fog
Bassaricyon neblina
Living in Colombia and Ecuador, the funny animal is the only predatory mammal described in the Western Hemisphere in the last 35 years. Belongs to the genus Olingo of the raccoon family. Specific Latin name neblina derived from the Spanish "fog" (in honor of the foggy mountain forests in which the olinguito lives).
Mega Instance
Phryganistria tamdaeoensis
This is not the largest stick insect in the world, it is slightly shorter than the champion (Chan's mega stick insect with outstretched limbs reaches a length of 60 cm). However, it was found last year in a national park right next to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, and not at all in the wild jungle.
Unfriendly fly
Semachrysa jade
Jade lacewing, living in Malaysia, was discovered in 2012 thanks to a amateur photographer who posted her picture on social networks. Flickr and asked someone to help identify the species. The unusual wing venation makes this fly look like a spider ready to attack.
Strong but light monitor lizard
Varanus bitatawa
This large lizard lives in the central part of the Philippine island of Luzon. It lives in the crowns of trees, reaches two meters in length, but weighs only about 10 kilograms. Peaceful, feeds on fruits and snails. Endangered: local tribes actively hunt this monitor lizard for meat. The species was described in 2010.
monkey philosopher
Cercopithecus lomamiensis
It was discovered by biologists already in the 21st century (by the way, this is only the second species of monkeys found in Africa over the past 30 years). The locals (Congo) have known her for a long time, they called her lesula and ate them with pleasure.
glowing gastropod
Phyllodesmium acanthorhinum
This beautiful gastropod mollusk, living in the area of the Japanese Islands, can glow. But it is important for biologists that in his person they have found an intermediate link between gastropods that feed on hydroid polyps and gastropods that prefer a coral diet.
Skeleton goat
Liropus minusculus
Creature from the sea goat family (Caprellidae) impresses with its phantasmagoric appearance. Lives in the Pacific Ocean, not far from the California coast. It is difficult to see it without a microscope (body length is 2-3 mm). Described in 2013.
Deceiver snake
Sibon noalamina
This dangerous-looking snake (found in Panama) quite peacefully feeds on snails, slugs and earthworms. It is protected from enemies by coloring, copying the characteristic combination of light and black rings of very poisonous coral snakes. Described in 2012.
pancake fish
Halieutichthys intermedius
This creature, resembling a poorly fried lumpy pancake, comes from the family of the bat-headed order of monkfish (this may partly explain its unusual appearance). The species was first discovered in 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico. The pancake fish does not so much swim as it crawls along the bottom, leaning on its fins. Predator. It hides by burrowing into the soil and lures the victim by releasing substances with a strong odor into the water.
Very slow snail
Zospeum tholussum
Land lung snails (discovered in 2010), living in the darkness of Croatian caves, do not need eyes or shell pigmentation (whose height is no more than 2 mm). Even by snail standards, they are very slow: they move a couple of centimeters a week.
A photo:Washington Tapia, Theodore W. Pietsch, University of Washington, Brett C. Ratcliffe, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, © 2012 Van Soest et al., Jean Vacelet, Michelle Kelly, Monika Schlacher-Hoenlinger (CC-BY), AP, AFP /East News, Nature PL / Legion-media, Dr. Thomas Geissmann, Peter Vršanský and Dušan Chorvát (CC-BY-SA), Matjazgregoric (CC-BY-SA), Mark Gurney, Dr. Bruno Kneubühler, Guek Hock Ping aka Kurt (Orionmystery) G (CC-BY), (C) 2013 Rafe M. Brown, Arvin C. Diesmos (CC-BY), Maurice Emetshu / © Hart et al / PLoS One, TL2 project / Lukuru Foundation, Robert Bolland, SINC - José Antonio Peñas, ©Sebastian Lotzkat / Enckenberg Gesellschaft Für Naturforschung, Ho, Chakrabarty and Sparks (2010) / NSF, (C) 2013 Alexander M. Weigand, J. Bedek (CC-BY)