THE DEMENTOR

Researchers named a newfound wasp Ampulex dementor, or "dementor wasp" for short: The name was inspired by Harry Potter's dementors, ghostlike creatures that suck away a person's happy thoughts (and soul, if they're feeling ravenous). [See Photos of Other Newly Discovered, But Weird Species]

The wasp eats cockroaches in an impressively scary way. It injects venom into the cockroach's belly, turning its prey into an immobile "passive zombie," the researchers told Live Science in May. But the venom doesn't actually kill it, meaning the cockroach gets eaten alive by the dementor wasp afterward.

SKELETOURS AND SPARKLEMUFFIN SPIDERS

It's worth overcoming arachnophobia to get a good look at these two beauties, endearingly dubbed "Skeletorus" and "Sparklemuffin."
Both are peacock spiders, named for their bright colors and dancelike courtship rituals, Live Science reported in February.
Skeletorus (Maratus sceletus) looks like a cartoon skeleton with its black-and-white markings, whereas Sparklemuffin (Maratus jactatus) has red-and-blue coloring. Both are found in Australia, and showcase the diversity (and colors) of the peacock spider group. [See More Photos of Gorgeous Peacock Spiders]

THE WHITE LION

The white lion is a rare color mutation of the lion, specifically the Southern African lion. White lions in the area of Timbavati were thought to have been indigenous to the Timbavati region of South Africa for centuries, although the earliest recorded sighting in this region was in 1938.
 White lions are not albinos. Their white color is caused by a recessive trait derived from a less-severe mutation in the same gene that causes albinism, distinct from the gene responsible for white tigers. They vary from blonde to near-white. This coloration does not appear to pose a disadvantage to their survival. The white lions of the Global White Lion Protection Trust (GWLPT) have been reintroduced into their natural habitat and have been hunting and breeding successfully without human intervention for a significant amount of time.

THE ZONKEY

The Zonkey is a hybrid animal that is created by cross-breeding two different species of animal that belong to the same genetic group. Technically though, an individual is only classed as a Zonkey if it is sired from a male Zebra and female Donkey, as one that has a male Donkey and female Zebra parents is known as a Zedonk. Like many other animal hybrids around the world including the Mule and the Liger however, the Zonkey is a sterile creature meaning that it cannot produce offspring of its own. Unlike the Liger though, it is actually quite possible for Zonkeys to live in the wild as Zebras and Donkeys are naturally found in close proximity to one another in parts of Africa. Although they are very rare, cases of wild Zonkeys have been reported but the majority of them today are found in zoos around the world and are bred as tourist attractions.