Species That Were Only Seen Once

While strolling through the Aruna Cal Pradesh forest in India in 2016, two researchers happened to come across this stunningly camouflaged object concealed among the leaves. They soon recognized the snake wasn't your typical viper after a local resident pointed it out. They were scratching their heads at this snake's peculiar pointed snout, which resembled that of a hump-nosed viper, and gorgeous orange belly. After giving it a closer look back at camp, they realized they had discovered something unique. The Indian Institute of Science's DNA test verified their discovery of a novel species, which is currently recognized as Triera suurus arunachensis in the scientific community. The snake's distinctive qualities didn't end there, either. The snake has a completely distinct scale pattern and a paired reproductive apparatus that set it apart from other vipers. This enigmatic snake possessed only 17 rows of scales across its center, compared to its nearest relative's about 20 rows.

The following species breaks all previous records in size and is called the Giant Gecko. It is the largest gecko ever found. The sole known specimen of this enormous gecko, which is as thick as a man's wrist and measures around two feet long, is presently in France, however its precise origins are still a mystery. People initially believed it might be from New Zealand due to stories from the area of a large, enigmatic reptile that lived in forests. However it was an intriguing notion, some new DNA research points to this nocturnal species as most likely originating from New Caledonia, however no one can definitively prove this at this time.

Generally speaking, sleeping sharks are large, sluggish animals that prefer to congregate in chilly, deep ocean waters. They typically blend into the dark sea because of their large, flat heads and thick bodies. However, in 2017, a sleeping shark that didn't resemble any of its relatives was captured at a fishing harbor and taken from a seafood market in Taiwan. To begin with, compared to its cousins, this 4.4-foot shark had smaller eyes and a smaller second dorsal fin. Additionally, it had fewer teeth in its lower jaw and more in its upper jaw. The fact that it was a pregnant woman carrying 33 embryos was the biggest surprise, though. This suggests that there may be more of these sharks in the deep ocean than we have yet discovered.

Introducing the pocket shark. It is only 5.5 inches in length. Even though the average length of a deep-water shark is just 6.5 feet, this animal is undoubtedly one of the ocean's best-kept secrets, so don't let its little size fool you. This little shark, found in the deep waters of Chile in 1979, resembles a real-life spy device thanks to its enigmatic pockets located near its front fins. It is thought that these enormous pockets, which make up around 4% of its total length, either glow or release pheromones. Therefore, in the shadowy depths, this shark may truly light up to deceive predators or lure prey. The creature is said to be suspended nearly 9,000 feet below the surface, which is approximately the height of seven Empire State Buildings stacked on top of one another. When I say deep, I mean very deep. In addition to its original finding in Chile, it was observed once more in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 but hasn't been seen since.

We're talking about more illuminating animals today than just the pocket shark. The scientific name for this inch-long cockroach is Lucihormetica luckae, and it was originally first discovered in 1939. However, it wasn't until 2012 that it gained attention, decades later. This small friend's utilization of bioluminescence—that is, patches that glow in the dark—is what makes it so fascinating. This cockroach uses light to signal to predators that it is not to be confused with a dangerous click beetle, in contrast to fireflies, who mostly use their glow to locate a mate. Regrettably, a volcanic eruption severely damaged the Ecuadorian region where it was discovered, creating doubts that this shining beauty was a unique find.

Let's move on to smaller animals and meet Hippocampus minur, popularly called the bullneck seahorse. The moniker "minur" refers to this miniature seahorse because of how distinctive it is—its huge head, wide neck, and small body. Nobody has ever seen it alive in its native habitat, and the only examples that are known to exist were taken off the coast of Eden, Australia. We therefore don't have a lot of knowledge regarding its daily existence. According to some research, it may reside at a depth of 325 feet under the surface, or around the height of a thirty-story structure. This enigmatic seahorse is thought to enjoy hiding in sandbeds and wrapping its prehensile tail around corals. Finding this interesting marine organism is like trying to find a needle in a haystack because of its yellow-orange color, which probably helps it blend into coral reefs.

Our list continues with the Narino cat. A lone example of this enigmatic spotted cat was found in southern Colombia's Gera's Volcano in 1989. This little fellow was really different from its relatives in that its fur was redder than theirs. It also had a short tail with seven black rings and a black tip. Recognizing that this was no typical animal, scientists set out to search many Latin American museums for felines that resembled it. However, they were largely unsuccessful in their search. Then, using DNA research, it was established that, having parted from its closest relatives some 1.9 million years ago, it was unlike any other known cat.
The Bogota Sun Angel is a magnificent purple hummingbird with black flight feathers and a vibrant green head and chin. For many years, the only specimen we were aware of was purchased in 1909 in Bogota, Colombia, and that was pretty much it. There was little information available on this stunning and enigmatic bird until a researcher in 2017 chose to do another DNA analysis on it. The findings imply that the Bogota Sun Angel may not be entirely distinct from other species after all. Given its appearance, it appears to be a hybrid, meaning it was created by crossing two different species of hummingbirds. Its mother was probably the stunning Long-tailed Sylph, which is primarily found in South America's Andes.

The Liverpool Pigeon, or Spotted Green Pigeon, is a bird species akin to the unicorn. An English doctor called John Latham initially reported it in 1783 after only seeing it once. Nobody has ever questioned that it was a pigeon since then, despite the fact that many scientists were certain it belonged to a different species. However, new DNA research suggests that this bird and the well-known dodo may actually be linked. That plump, flightless bird from Mauritius that resembled a gigantic pigeon and had an odd-shaped beak? In any case, the Liverpool Pigeon has distinctive feathers with yellow spots and measures around 13 inches in length. The Spotted Green Pigeon was more of a tree-dweller than its ground-dwelling cousin, the Nicobar Pigeon, which enjoyed eating fruits high in the branches. The only known specimen of this uncommon bird is kept in the World Museum in Liverpool, therefore visiting there today is your only chance to see one.

The only specimen of a flying fox, officially known as Terapist brunius, may be found at the Natural History Museum in London, so be sure to visit it when you're in England. With a body length of about 16 inches, not counting their wings, flying foxes are among the biggest bats in the world. However, at 8.3 inches from head to toe, this unique bat—discovered in 1874 at Percy Island—is more akin to a miniature version of its family. Therefore, even though it hasn't been seen in the wild in a while, if you happen to come across it, you shouldn't be too concerned.