KotoLis, flying cuscus, and chocolate frog from Harry Potter: 10 astonishing new species discovered recently.

In 2020, a Russian-Japanese research team discovered a unique skate in the Kuril Islands. Its back features three pairs of light spots, which is why it was nicknamed Bathyraja sexoculata, literally meaning "six-eyed." This species of skate resembles those from other genera, but it is distinguished from the others by the CO1 gene sequence.

This smiling reptile was discovered by scientists back in the 18th century, but in 2020 it was established that there are actually two types of these turtles that were previously thought to be one. The first, Chelus fimbriatus, inhabits the Amazon basin and prefers shallow waters. The second, Chelus orinocensis, lives in the Orinoco River valley and is distinguished from the first by its lighter coloration and rounded shell shape.

The year 2020 was rich in discoveries. During that time, Australian scientists described two new species of giant flying possums, bringing the total to three: Petauroides minor, Petauroides armillatus, and Petauroides volans. They inhabit different parts of Australia and differ from each other only in their DNA molecules.

This species of beetle was described in 2019. It is very small in size but has relatively long antennae. Scientists found their resemblance to long braids, leading them to name the beetle after eco-activist Greta Thunberg - Nelloptodes gretae. This insect lives in Kenya and lacks both eyes and wings.

In 2022, researchers from Peru described a new species of frog — Synapturanus danta. It has a dark brown color, which is why it was nicknamed "the Harry Potter frog" on social media. This small amphibian resides in Peru.

The prefix "nano-" is not just for show: this reptile is recognized as the tiniest in the world, measuring no more than 30 millimeters in length. Its scientific name is Brookesia nana, and it was first described in 2021 by German herpetologists. Nanochameleons are found only in the tropical mountain forests of northern Madagascar.

This species of marine fish was discovered in the Atlantic Ocean in 2018. Tosanoides aphrodite has a bright coloration that literally catches the eye! Thus, this fish was named after Aphrodite — the Greek goddess of love and beauty.

This species of beaked whales was described in 2021, having been discovered in the Pacific Ocean. It hides from predators at a depth of 2,000 meters and primarily inhabits the Southern Hemisphere. An adult Mesoplodon eueu can reach lengths of up to 5.3 meters. It differs from other members of its genus by having tusks at the tip of its lower jaw, a higher skull, and a shorter beak.

In 2022, researchers discovered a new species of sloth in Brazil — Bradypus crinitus. Its head resembles a large coconut, and it differs from other genera of sloths primarily in skull structure: the forehead line is flatter, and the zygomatic arches protrude slightly further outward. To date, the lifestyle of this sloth species is not well understood.

This animal has not yet been classified as a separate species, but since 2019, when a photo of an unusual cat living on the island of Corsica surfaced online, researchers have been studying it. The cat-otter is larger than an ordinary domestic cat, with wide ears, large paws, short whiskers, big teeth, and a dark-colored tail.