Thrills and Chills Trivia Quiz

Answer:

The "thrills" of this quiz are the ten newly-discovered species, officially described between the years 2024 and 2026.

Named in honour of Sir David Attenborough's 100th birthday, Attenborough's parasitic wasp (Attenboroughnculus tau) is a tiny Chilean parasitic wasp that was formally described as both a new species and a new genus in 2026. Although the specimen had sat unnoticed in the Natural History Museum's collections since 1983, detailed study revealed a unique combination of anatomical features that justified creating an entirely new genus.

Discovered in Peru's cloud forests, the Chachapoya mouse opossum (Marmosa chachapoya) was distinguished from related species through a combination of DNA analysis and physical characteristics. This small nocturnal marsupial possesses an unusually long snout and tail and highlights how even mammals can remain undescribed in relatively well-studied regions.

Described in 2025, the Elven abyss tunicate (Kaikoja undume) inhabits the abyssal depths of the Indian Ocean. The species name derives from J.R.R. Tolkien's Quenya Elvish word undumë, meaning "abyss," reflecting both its habitat and the researchers' literary inspiration. It belongs to a group of predatory sea squirts adapted to life in the perpetual darkness of the deep ocean.

Nicknamed the glass castle worm (Dalhousiella yabukii), this striking marine annelid was described in 2026 from volcanic seamount environments in the Pacific Ocean. It lives in association with glass sponge structures, giving rise to its memorable common name. The species was highlighted by the Ocean Census programme as an example of the extraordinary biodiversity still being discovered in deep-sea ecosystems.

Formally described in 2026, the hairy ghost pipefish (Solenostomus snuffleupagus) is a small reef fish found in the western Pacific and distinguished by its shaggy, filament-covered body that helps it blend into algae and soft corals. Its unusual appearance reminded researchers of Mr. Snuffleupagus from "Sesame Street," inspiring its species name. Genetic and anatomical studies showed it to be distinct from all previously known ghost pipefishes.

The Himalayan long-tailed myotis (Myotis himalaicus) is a bat species that was formally recognized following genetic and acoustic studies conducted in (you guessed it) the Himalayas. Previously confused with related bats, it was shown to constitute a distinct species adapted to mountainous environments. Its description underscores the importance of modern genetic techniques in revealing hidden biodiversity among mammals.

The internet-named chiton (Ferreiraella populi) is a deep-sea mollusk that lives on sunken wood nearly 5,500 metres below the surface in the Izu-Ogasawara Trench near Japan. After appearing in a popular science video, more than 8,000 members of the public submitted name suggestions, leading scientists to select populi, Latin for "of the people." The species belongs to a little-known group of wood-fall chitons and was formally described in 2026.

The Japanese man-of-war (Physalia mikazuki) was identified from specimens collected off (appropriately) Japan. Although it resembles the notorious Portuguese man-of-war, detailed morphological and genetic analysis revealed it to be a distinct species. Like its relatives, it is a colonial organism composed of specialized individuals working together as a single floating predator armed with stinging tentacles.

The Liziping toothed toad (Oreolalax lizipingensis) was discovered in high-elevation mountain streams within Sichuan Province, China, and described in 2026. It is a relatively small member of the genus Oreolalax, characterized by distinctive skin texture, coloration, breeding habits, and genetic markers that distinguish it from its closest relatives. The species is currently known only from a limited area of the Liziping National Nature Reserve.

Discovered in the rainforests of Borneo, the pretty-in-pink katydid (Eulophophyllum kirki) attracted worldwide attention because of the brilliant pink colouration of its females, a rarity among insects. Named after photographer Peter Kirk, whose images brought the species to scientific attention, it mimics the appearance of a tropical leaf, complete with vein-like patterns that aid camouflage.

In contrast, the "chills" of this collection are these six species that were newly assessed or recognized as extinct by the IUCN during the same time period (between 2024 and 2026):

The Christmas Island shrew (Crocidura trichura) was Australia's only native shrew species and once occurred throughout Christmas Island. Its decline is linked to the introduction of invasive species, including black rats, feral cats, wolf snakes, and yellow crazy ants, together with disease and habitat disturbance. No confirmed sightings occurred after the mid-1980s, leading the IUCN to classify it as extinct during the 2025-26 assessment cycle.

The northern mulgara (Dasycercus woolleyae) was a small carnivorous marsupial that inhabited the arid interior of central Australia. Although closely related to other mulgaras, it was only recently distinguished as a separate species through taxonomic revision. The most recent confirmed record dates from 1962, and despite extensive surveys across its former range, no surviving populations have been found. In the 2026 IUCN Red List update, the species was classified as Extinct after researchers concluded that it had disappeared decades ago. Its decline is attributed to the same factors that affected many small Australian mammals, including habitat degradation, altered fire regimes, and predation by introduced cats and foxes.

The Nullarbor barred bandicoot (Perameles papillon) was a small marsupial native to arid southern Australia. It had not been reliably recorded for many decades, and assessments conducted during the 2024-2026 IUCN review cycle concluded that the species no longer survives. Habitat alteration, introduced predators such as cats and foxes, and the vulnerability common to many small Australian mammals are believed to have contributed to its disappearance.

Endemic to the Azores, Ogilvie's geometer moth (Eupithecia ogilviata) was known from only a handful of historical records and had not been seen since the early twentieth century. Extensive habitat changes, including replacement of native vegetation by invasive plants and agricultural development, are believed to have eliminated the specialized ecological conditions on which the species depended. It was assessed as extinct by the IUCN in 2026.

Parreys' thermal snail (Microcolpia parreyssii) was endemic to the thermal waters of Lake Pețea in Romania, one of Europe's most unusual aquatic habitats. The species became extinct following severe degradation of the spring-fed lake caused by groundwater extraction, falling water temperatures, habitat collapse, and environmental disturbance. Although the last individuals likely disappeared by the mid-2010s, the species was formally assessed as extinct by the IUCN in 2026.

Once a migratory shorebird ranging from Siberia to the Mediterranean, the slender-billed curlew (Numenius tenuirostris) suffered a long-term decline driven by habitat loss on breeding and wintering grounds, drainage of wetlands, and hunting along migration routes. The last confirmed sighting occurred in Morocco in 1995, and after decades of unsuccessful searches, the species was declared extinct in 2024.