Top 10 New Species: Cartwheeling Spider, Psychedelic Sea Slug
For 20 years, divers off the Japanese coast had wondered what was making mysterious "crop circles" on the ocean floor. In 2014, scientists discovered the culprit behind the intricate patterns—a new species of pufferfish, Torquigener albomaculosus.
Now, this marine artist is being honored as one of the Top 10 New Species for 2015. Since 2008, the State University of New York's International Institute for Species Exploration has recognized the weirdest and most fascinating plants and animals found in the past year.
In addition to the pufferfish, this year's lineup features a cartwheeling spider, a frog that gives birth to live tadpoles, and a sea slug with crazy colors.
The list highlights a small fraction of the approximately 18,000 new species found annually. Almost two million plant and animal species have been named so far, and it's estimated that ten million more await discovery, says Quentin Wheeler, founding director of the institute for species exploration.
However, threats such as habitat loss, pollution, and poaching mean that many species are disappearing before we can identify them.
"I'm concerned that with the biodiversity crisis happening, we are losing species at least as fast as we are discovering them," says Wheeler.
"The importance of this list is that it draws attention to discoveries that are made even as species are going extinct at an alarming rate."
Go to the gallery - Top 10 New Species: Cartwheeling Spider, Psychedelic Sea Slug
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Kim Jong-un Rant Scares Staff
His verbal onslaught came just days after the execution by anti-aircraft gun of a defence boss who nodded off in a meeting
North Korean despot Kim Jong-un had a furious rant at staff during a visit to a terrapin farm - leaving them in fear for their lives.
The country's Supreme Leader was pictured wagging his finger at officials in a building full of the terrapin-breeding tanks.
His verbal onslaught came just days after the execution by anti-aircraft gun of a defence boss who nodded off in a meeting.
Kim's latest public appearance was a far cry from the usual smiles and photo-calls of official engagements which have inspired entire web sites devoted to his various official visits.
This time, the dictator featured on a large photo on the front page of state newspaper Rodong Sinmun in the midst of an angry rebuke aimed at farm staff.
He "strongly criticised the shortcoming of its officials as a manifestation of incompetence, outmoded way of thinking and irresponsible work style," the North's official KCNA news agency said.
Kim was very upset as the farm was set up by his late father Kim Jong-Il to "provide the people with tasty and nutritious terrapin widely known as a precious tonic from olden times".
"The employees who failed to bear deep in their minds Kim Jong-Il's leadership exploits could hardly perform their role as masters in production," a furious Mr Kim was quoted as saying.
If all officials were as incompetent as those at Taedonggang Terrapin Farm, then North Korea would never achieve his father's visionary goals, he added.
Terrapin, usually served as a soup, is an expensive delicacy in North Korea. The farm was also set up to breed freshwater lobsters, but failed because of its managers' "irresponsible work style," KCNA said.
The country is about to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Korean Workers' Party (WPK) and there is speculation Kim wanted the terrapins and lobsters for feast days.
KCNA gave no reasons for his displeasure at the farm, located on the outskirts of Pyongyang. But public dressing-downs are rare during his field trips, and will be deeply worrying for those on the receiving end.
Last year, he complained there were "too many incorrect" weather forecasts during a tour of a meteorological station. In 2013, he was pictured berating officials after spotting broken pavements and weeds at an amusement park.
Kim has ordered the execution of 16 officials this year, apparently for questioning his authority, according to South Korean intelligence chiefs.
Last week, defence minister Hyon Yong Chol was executed by anti-aircraft fire as punishment for falling asleep at a military event.
The 66-year-old was not accepted by the younger generation of technocrats who are the core of Kim's regime, according to experts. Former US State Department official John Merrill said there was probably conflict between Kim and the military over funding.
He pointed out that several senior military leaders have been purged while the technocrats seem secure.
This week, Ban Ki-Moon will become the first UN Secretary General to set foot in North Korea for more than 20 years at the Kaesong joint industrial complex.
Mr Ban confirmed his visit to a plant jointly operated by the two Koreas. The last UN chief to go to North Korea was Boutros Boutros-Ghali in 1993. - Kim Jong-Un snaps at turtle farm staff in bizarre rant that left workers fearing for their lives
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Horrifying Dentist Allegedly Choked Kids, Took Out Teeth for No Reason
A Florida pediatric dentist and possible demon from your nightmares made flesh is being sued by nearly 50 patients for allegedly performing unnecessary surgery on kids—pulling out their teeth for no reason, and in some cases hitting or choking them.
Parents have been protesting outside Dr. Howard Schneider’s office for three weeks, and CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 brought national attention to the case on Wednesday, showing cell phone video of a child screaming in Schneider’s chair and interviewing a little girl who ended up with seven teeth pulled instead of just one.
“She was hyperventilating and had blood all over her, marks all over her,” the girl’s mom, Brandi Motley, said. “In the parking lot, she takes her gauze out, and all of her teeth are gone. What happened to all of her teeth?”
The six-year-old said the dentist also hit and choked her.
After Motley put photos of her daughter’s dental horror on Facebook, the parents of the alleged victims started coming forward with their own horror stories, resulting in a class action for assault and battery. (Motley and her daughter dropped out from that suit, but are pursuing a separate medical malpractice case against Schneider).
The families claim Schneider makes parents stay in the waiting room instead of coming back with their kids, possibly so the adults can’t stop him from removing extra teeth.
What would be Schneider’s incentive to do these unnecessary extractions, though? CNN points out that Medicaid pays dental benefits on a per tooth basis, and Medicaid has been very good to Schneider: He’s collected nearly $4 million in reimbursements over the past five years.
“The Florida Attorney General’s office has launched a criminal Medicaid fraud investigation,” CNN reports, “and the claims stretch back decades.”
In 1995, Schneider was sued for malpractice after allegedly putting 16 crowns (sixteen!) in a three-year-old’s mouth. He settled the case for $7,500.
John Phillips, attorney for the class-action plaintiffs, also told WJAX-TV the Justice Department has launched an investigation into Schneider, and plans to meet with him about it in July.
Meanwhile, Schneider’s wife—who was apparently also his longtime office manager—has filed for divorce, his treatment staff has left, and his office isn’t accepting new patients. - Horrifying Dentist Allegedly Choked Kids, Took Out Teeth for No Reason
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Hi folks...I have been asked to once again appear on Coast to Coast AM on Sunday (Monday) May 31st. (Midnight - 2AM PT) - The subject will be 'Reptoids in Caves'. Should be interesting...Lon
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