More Life at Sea: Unexpectedly High Biodiversity in the Deep-Sea Marine Protected Area

An international research team has studied the genetic diversity of bottom-dwelling amphipods in the newly established “North Atlantic Current and Evlanov Sea Basin” marine protected area. A single sample collected from a depth of nearly 3,700 meters revealed 47 genetically Mehr

Blue Planet with a White Spot: More Than Half of the World’s Oceans Remain Insufficiently Explored

Large parts of the oceans – particularly the deep sea as well as tropical and polar regions – have only been poorly explored to date. In a study published today in the journal “Nature Communications,” Senckenberg researcher PD Dr Hanieh Mehr

Digital Network of Knowledge: Senckenberg Joins the Biodiversity Heritage Library

The Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung has joined the international consortium of the Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL). As a result, the historical works and publications on biodiversity preserved in the Senckenberg libraries will be systematically digitized and integrated into the globally Mehr

A Bite at the Title: The Vampire Snail is the “International Mollusc of the Year 2026”

The Mediterranean vampire snail Cumia intertexta has been named the “International Mollusc of the Year 2026.” In a public online vote, the marine snail—which feeds on fish blood—received the most clicks, beating out two bivalves and two other snails that Mehr

From the Pampas to Patagonia: DNA Reveals South America’s Human History

A new genetic study shows that cultural diversity in the so-called Southern Cone – the roughly triangular southernmost part of South America – was strongly influenced by extensive human migration. An international research team led by the Senckenberg Centre for Mehr

Vote Now: Who will be Mollusc of the Year 2026?

Three snails, two bivalves, one title. Starting today, all mollusc fans are invited to visit https://sgn.one/imoy2026 to help decide which of the five finalist species will receive the title of “International Mollusc of the Year 2026.” This is the sixth time that Mehr

Return to Nature: 27 Leopard Tortoises Released into the Wild in South Africa

A team of South African and German researchers led by Senckenberg scientist Dr. Melita Vamberger and Dr. Adrian J. Armstrong (Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife) has used a genetic reference database to trace the origins of leopard tortoises that were confiscated and Mehr

Blueleg, Colourleg, and Cave Midget: Nine New Spider Species Discovered

The limestone caves of Laos are hotspots of biodiversity: Senckenberg arachnologist Dr. Peter Jäger and his colleague Liphone Nophaseud from the National University of Laos have discovered nine previously unknown spider species there. They belong to three genera and two Mehr

Tracing the Venom: Genetic Material of a Living Fossil Decoded

With the almost complete decoding of the genome of the rare earless monitor lizard, a Senckenberg team of taxonomists and genomicists is providing new, fundamental insights into the early evolutionary history of the scaled reptiles. The lizard, which is regarded Mehr

Tiny, Blind, and no Skull Roof: New Fish Species Discovered from a Well

An international team led by Senckenberg researcher Dr. Ralf Britz has made an extraordinary discovery in Northeast India when they found an as yet undescribed species of fish in a well. The blind loach with a length of just 20 Mehr