This year's list of new species also includes a glow-in-the-dark mushroom and a leech with enormous teeth
The South African cockroach has been named as one of the world's top 10 news species. The "leaproach" was discovered in the Table Mountain National Park by scientists from the University of Cape Town. (Mike Picker / University of Cape Town)
May 26, 2011, 9:20 a.m.
JOHANNESBURG— A leech with enormous teeth sounds like a horror movie special effect, but according to an annual list of new species, it really exists. It joins a glow-in-the-dark mushroom and a spider that can create giant webs on this year's list.
But the new species that has scientists excited this year is out of South Africa.
Scientists there say they've found a new species of cockroach in a popular tourist destination.
Cape Town's Table Mountain National Park is home to the world's only jumping cockroach, which this week was named one of the top 10 species discoveries of the year by an international panel of experts.
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http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-fgw-new-cockroach-20110526,0,7373440.story