Researchers made major discoveries during an expedition south of Guadeloupe.
December 17, 2025, 12:27 p.mDecember 17, 2025, 12:27 p.m
A small white scorpion, dozens of insects and plants: researchers have discovered more than 100 previously unknown species in the French Antilles.
They were found last year during an expedition to explore biodiversity on several small islands south of Guadeloupe, as the researchers reported on Tuesday in Pointe-à-Pitre. In total, around 50 marine animals, 30 new plants and 40 insects were recorded, said the President of the Regional Authority for Biological Diversity, Sylvie Gustave-Di-Duflo.
Basse-Terre is one of the islands that belongs to Guadeloupe.Image: Shutterstock
“We wouldn’t have thought”
120 local and international researchers took part in the expedition. The newly discovered species include, in particular, many flies.
“We didn’t think we would discover so many new species so quickly,” said researcher Julien Touroult, looking at the island of Désirade, which is only a good 20 square kilometers in size. In the coming years, research will be carried out to find out where the new species are widespread, how many specimens there are and whether they are among the endangered species. (sda/afp)