Some of the most colourful animal, plant and insect discoveries of 2016

Every year, scientists discover thousands of new species. Researchers at the The California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco have added 133 to the family tree this year.

Dozens of researchers and international collaborators described species that include one bee fly, 43 ants, 36 beetles, one sand wasp, four spiders, six plants, 23 fishes, one eel, one shark, seven nudibranchs, five fossil urchins, one fossil sand dollar, one coral, one skate, one African lizard, and a new infectious bird virus.

"Biodiversity scientists estimate that we have discovered less than 10% of the species on our planet," said Dr. Shannon Bennett the Academy's Chief of Science. "Academy scientists tirelessly explore the lesser-known regions of Earth... Each of these species, known and as-yet-unknown is a wonder unto itself, but may also hold the key to ground-breaking innovations in science, technology, or society."

These are some of the highlights of what they've discovered in 2016.