16:06 25 May 2011
The winners are in: the top new species of 2010, as selected by the International Institute for Species Exploration at Arizona State University in Phoenix. From glow-in-the-dark mushrooms and steel-eating bacteria to giant leeches and bizarre pancake fish, New Scientist takes a look at the ones that made the cut.
Image 7 of 11
At 5 centimetres long, it's easy to see how the Tyrannobdella rex
(which translates as "tyrant leech king") got its name. The leech is the only known species with a single jaw and large teeth, and was discovered feeding on the nasal mucous membrane of a child in Peru.
There are currently 600 to 700 species of leeches described, but more surprises could be to come – there could be as many as 10,000 more species throughout the world.
(IMage: PLoS ONE)