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The Dragon From “Games Of Throne” And The Hat Of Harry Potter: Scientists Reveal Top 10 Most Bizarre New Species Of 2017

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  • 1

    The 'Harry Potter' spider - Eriovixia gryffindori

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    The spider is named after the original owner of the hat, Godric Gryffindor, one of the four founders of the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. The small spider, which is seven millimetres (0.28 inches) long, is nocturnal and takes refuge in dead, dry leaves which they're well camouflaged for.

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  • 2

    Can you spot the spider?

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  • 3

    The Game of Thrones ant with dragon-like spines - Pheidole drogon

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    Scientists were inspired to name the new ant species after Drogon, one of the fictional dragons from the TV series Game of Thrones, because of its large, dragon-like spines.


  • 4

    The millipede with 414 legs -Illacme tobini

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    The unique creature has 414 legs, four 'penises', bizarre-looking mouth parts and secretes a poisonous chemical as a defense mechanism.


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  • 5

    The polka dot 'king' freshwater stringray - Potamotrygon rex

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    This large, polka dot patterned freshwater stingray lives in the Tocantins River in Brazil.
    The specimen discovered is 1,110 mm (43 inches) in length, but large specimens may weigh up to 20 kg (44 pounds).



  • 6

    The pink 'leaf-like' katydid insect - Eulophophyllum kirki

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    Named after the photographer of the only known specimen, Peter Kirk, Eulophophyllum kirki uses color and mimicry to blend into surrounding leaves


  • 7

    The 'churro' pink worm found in the deep sea - Xenoturbella churro

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    The strange pink worm, named after a Spanish fried pastry, was discovered 12,000 feet (3,658 metres) below the waves and may be one of our earliest ancestors.


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  • 8

    The 8-inch centipede that delivers a venomous bite - Scolopendra cataracta

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    Scolopendra cataracta is the first known amphibious centipede, which can move between land and water, and swims 'powerfully' like an eel.


  • 9

    The omnivorous rat - Gracilimus radix

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    The omnivorous Sulawesi root rat, discovered in Indonesia, eats both plant and animal matter, making it unique among its strictly carnivorous relatives


  • 10

    The 'devil' orchid - Telipogon diabolicus

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    The new species of orchid, called Telipogon diabolicus, has a reproductive structure derived from the fusion of male and female flower parts into one - and it bears a striking resemblance to depictions of the devil's head


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  • 11

    The bush tomato that 'bleeds' when it's cut - Solanum ossicruentum

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    Young fruits of the species stain blood red when cut before maturing into a dry, white bony state - so the final choice combines the Latin 'ossi' for bony and 'cruentum' for bloody.


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