In a day that would have shocked people just a few centuries ago — but, then, what day these days wouldn’t? — not only was the first polar-grizzly hybrid confirmed, but the first new genus for an African primate in 83 years was created. The Tanzanian monkey, the kipjuni, is now part of the genus Rungweebus, named after the mountain where it was found. At first scientists thought it was a mangabey but they’ve decided it’s more closely related to the baboon even though it’s anatomically different. The reclassification was cinched when scientists discovered it shoots laser beams from its eyes. (All according to the AP.) [Tags: taxonomy everything_is_miscellaneous]

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