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Animal Discoveries Of The Decade: 'Yoda' Bat, Flying Frog, Scorpion-Spider And More (PHOTOS)

The Huffington Post     First Posted: 12/23/10 09:49 AM ET   Updated: 05/25/11 07:20 PM ET

Christopher Columbus, you've got some tough competition. The many species discovered this past decade are so bizarre, adorable, and shocking that these past years have been dubbed the "decade of discovery." While some may argue that sliced bread was the biggest discovery ever, check out the sea cucumber and nail-sized frog before choosing sides.

Yoda Bat
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While this Tube-nosed Fruit Bat remains unnamed, it seems that "Yoda #2" would be fitting, based on his Star Wars-like appearance. The bat was found by Conservation International's Rapid Assessment Program (RAP) researchers in Papua New Guinea, and while not entirely new to science, he is remarkable nonetheless.
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This Animal
Nothing Remarkable
Incredible Find!

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Christopher Columbus, you've got some tough competition. The many species discovered this past decade are so bizarre, adorable, and shocking that these past years have been dubbed the "decade of disco...
Christopher Columbus, you've got some tough competition. The many species discovered this past decade are so bizarre, adorable, and shocking that these past years have been dubbed the "decade of disco...
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Michelle in CT
114 Fans
04:59 PM on 01/19/2011
Holy cow, he does sorta look like Yoda!
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Angiefranci
145 Fans
04:05 PM on 12/28/2010
That bat is so damn ugly she/he's adorable!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
jimspy
Quod quae operibus sufficit.
351 Fans
04:00 PM on 12/27/2010
That walking stick looks like something out of "The Fog."
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
mfoto1986
The Honey Badger!!
434 Fans
02:01 AM on 12/26/2010
I don't usually find Bats that cute looking... but damn this Bat takes it to a whole new level of ugliness lol
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Samuel Perry
133 Fans
03:04 PM on 12/24/2010
I see the Patrick Stewart of the animal world. This bat has the bearing of a gentleman and a scholar.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
SirenForSanity
Hi De Hi Hi De Ho Times
2023 Fans
 
03:07 PM on 12/24/2010
He DOES look like Patrick Stewart!!
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Ddorsey
15 Fans
12:18 PM on 12/24/2010
I'm probably the only one to have this reaction, but seeing these animals makes me appreciate being human. Life as a Pygmy Sloth would suck.
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LMPE
I connect the most dissimilar things
1543 Fans
12:53 AM on 12/24/2010
The Yoda Bat beats Jim DeMint for good looks.
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farmilyman
everything is illusion
596 Fans
12:17 AM on 12/24/2010
I'm so tired of seeing Sarah Palin's picture in every section.
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Chlowina
We're skrwd
601 Fans
11:29 PM on 12/23/2010
With many species becoming extinct, it's good to know they are finding others.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
situationcritical
SuperMegaUltraUberLiberal
3767 Fans
 
10:55 PM on 12/23/2010
That looks more like Woody eating a catfish.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Barringtonmorr
Democracy: Where any two |diots outvote a genius
282 Fans
 
10:42 PM on 12/23/2010
If you have yellow spots on your groin you might want to get that checked out
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Godiva
Oracle - Latte Drinker, A in GBLTQA
559 Fans
 
10:36 PM on 12/23/2010
Here is my favorite of all times.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/gallery_directory.cfm?photo_id=B33AB931-0A75-4C6A-75914E3A5AC011A7
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
situationcritical
SuperMegaUltraUberLiberal
3767 Fans
 
10:57 PM on 12/23/2010
Wait - that thing is real? I saw it the other day, and thought it was a joke.
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freddychef
what the heck is this??????????
752 Fans
12:35 AM on 12/24/2010
its real....... and it knows where you swim!

night-night,
sweet dreams.
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jmdziuban1
Heeey, Mr Spaceman.
1102 Fans
03:24 AM on 12/24/2010
Holy Smokes!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
offred
A biocitizen is 3/5 of a corporate citizen
1588 Fans
08:49 PM on 12/23/2010
Yoda looks disconcertingly intelligent.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
halucijason
Lysergic tales I live and tell.
27 Fans
01:22 AM on 12/24/2010
I was going to say it looks like it can speak for some reason.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Carachama
I'm not apt to follow blindly the lead of others
677 Fans
09:19 AM on 12/24/2010
Speak it cannot.
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kewps
My Altered Ego
611 Fans
08:24 PM on 12/23/2010
Awesome planet we live on. We just need to take better care of it.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Forester
Foresters do it in the woods.
1371 Fans
07:46 PM on 12/23/2010
Stick insects are just awesome. Who needs to invent space aliens with these critters crawling around?
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freddychef
what the heck is this??????????
752 Fans
12:37 AM on 12/24/2010
like, crawling around .... on you in bed tonight.


sweet dreams.
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