Meet the Winners:

Protecting diversity for future generations is a human responsibility, but how can we protect a species that we don’t know exists? Better yet, protect 12-foot crocodiles hiding in plain sight? The tropical Central highlands and delta lowlands of Papua New Guinea contain a secluded, remote and stunning array of diversity worthy of an Indiana Jones adventure. The number of species found nowhere else on earth makes this area a unique biodiversity hotspot and the number of species inhabiting the island might be more than meets the eye.

Even the New Guinea Crocodile, a 12-foot long modern dinosaur, showed incredible differences in breeding between crocodiles north and south of the highlands.

We considered this observation and asked whether the northern and southern crocodiles are on different evolutionary paths, thus different species. Instead of packing our field gear for a jungle expedition we studied museum specimens stored in natural history collections. Using imaging techniques and shape quantification methods, paired with genetic and ecological data, we discovered a new species of crocodile, Hall’s New Guinea crocodile, from the southern side of the Central Highlands; a species hiding in plain sight in natural history museums around the world.

This new species highlights the importance of museum collections as vaults of diversity and discoveries waiting to be explored. Our study also calls for conservation efforts that will keep this new crocodile that was hiding in plain sight around for our grandchildren to enjoy.