1. A new species of spiny lizard — Sceloporus huichol. Scientists examined specimens from 8 museums and university collections and found differences in morphology, color patterns, and genetics from similar species, as well as habitat preferences. Sceloporus huichol lives in the semi-xeric pine and oak forests in the mountains of Nayarit and Jalisco in west-central Mexico. The term “huichol” honors the Huichol tribe of Mexico who live where this species of lizard is found.

2. Fire salamander — Bolitoglossa cathyledecae. This species can be distinguished from its close relatives by color, webbing on its hands and feet, and the number of upper teeth that it has. Scientists note that it’s classified as critically endangered. They discovered this salamander in Panama, in the Chiriquí province. And it was named after the conservationist Cathy Ledec.

3. Millipede — Nannaria swiftae. One of the key differences that the researchers found was the morphology of the male’s modified legs, which are used for mating. 17 new species were found in the valleys of the Appalachian Mountains. The scientific name honors popular singer and songwriter Taylor Swift. This unusual choice is explained by the fact that Dr. Derek Hennen, lead author of the study, is a fan of hers. He previously named another millipede species, Nannaria marianae, after his wife Marian, as “a small thank you for all her patience when we’re taking a nature hike and I stop to look for millipedes.”

4. Rose-veiled fairy wrasse — Cirrhilabrus finifenmaa. It was originally thought to be an adult of a different fairy wrasse species, but further analysis showed that it was a separate species. It’s found off the coast of the Maldives. The name is derived from the local Dhivehi language, and means “rose.” This is a tribute to both the national flower of the Maldives and the stunning pink hues of the wrasse.

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