Every year, new species are discovered. In 2018, 229 new species were found; 157 were found in the Greater Mekong region alone. The discovery of new species is always good news for biodiversity, but naming these new species is no easy task. Certain procedure and reliable information are required to define the new form, its features, genes etc. so as to avoid confusion.

Usually, when you find something that might be a new species, it is important to select a holotype that shows its key and unique features as well as some paratypes that show additional features to help identify the new species. Mostly, these samples must be kept in museums for assessment by other researchers. Then comes the key process – describing the features that make it a new species. This can include behaviors, anatomical characters and genetic formation. Meanwhile, details as to when, where and in what environment the samples can be found are collected. Characters that differentiate it from other species are in need, such as the number of vertebrae or number of toes. Given the chances that some species share seemingly similar looks and characteristics, DNA detection will always serve as the fair judge to give the ultimate conclusion.

A story that shows this case happened at the National Zoo in Washington DC, where zoologists were confused and frustrated for years on why the olinguito (a type of raccoon-like mammal) showed little interested in olinguitos. 

The mystery was solved when they found that the animal they were trying to mate with the olinguito was actually an olingo, their identical-looking cousin. Thanks to DNA analysis, that these two were finally free from the tortured arranged marriage.

After going through all the details of the new species, then comes the naming part. Species should be given both a generic name and a species name. The generic name identifies the genus to which it belongs, the addition of the species name makes it unique and new. Finally, all the hard work of analyzing and recording the observation results and data must be put into a publishable paper accessible internationally.

Despite the number of new species discovered every year (estimated between 15,000 and 18,000), scientists believe there are millions more left to discover and describe due to accessibility and other reasons. Some scientists even estimated there might be 10 times that of the two million spices we have already identified undiscovered. To name all these will take at least a century or two, regardless of the fact that some species may die out before being found.