In a national park, a "hairy devil" has been discovered for the first time in 50 years, named after a tiny sheep.

The national parks of the USA are renowned for their biodiversity, yet even the most thoroughly studied areas can surprise scientists. Last year, researchers discovered a particularly rare specimen in Big Bend National Park in Texas, USA, according to IFLScience.

The authors of the study point out that this finding is unique for several reasons: it is the first new genus and species of plant found in an American national park since 1976. Scientists have named the new species "wooly Devil": "wooly" refers to its fluffy appearance, while "devil" is due to its two red ray flowers that resemble horns. Another contributing factor is the proximity to an area known as the Devil's Den, where the new species was discovered.

The scientific name of the species, Ovicula biradiata, derives from a Latin word meaning "tiny sheep." Researchers note that this makes sense given the fluffiness of the new species, as well as the fact that Big Bend is home to the iconic desert bighorn sheep. Biradiata, on the other hand, means "two-rayed," referring to the two nearly symmetrical ray flowers.

The plant was first discovered in the hot desert landscape of the park in March of last year by park volunteer Deb Manley, who uploaded a photo to a scientific portal. The photographs caught the attention of a group of botanists, who then received permission to collect more samples.

The team studied the plant and found that it is indeed a completely new species. According to co-author Dr. Isaac Lichter Mark, O. biradiata belongs to the sunflower family, although at first glance it does not resemble its relatives in the form of sun rays.

During the study, scientists sequenced the plant's DNA and compared it with other samples in the herbarium, discovering that this small, fluffy plant is not merely a new species within the sunflower group but is also sufficiently distinct from its closest relatives.

Interestingly, the last new genus of plants recorded in a US national park was almost 50 years ago, when the shrub July Gold (Dedeckera eurekensis) was discovered in Death Valley National Park.

According to Lichter Mark, despite the species being recently discovered, scientists suspect it may already be at risk of extinction. The reason is that climate change is causing deserts to become hotter and drier, putting specialized plants like the wooly devil at risk. Researchers note that, at this point, the plants have only been found in three narrow locations in the northernmost corner of the park — scientists suspect they may have discovered a species that is already on the brink of extinction.

That’s why the exact location of the wooly devil is kept secret, allowing the team time for further research on the plant to determine whether it should be listed under the Endangered Species Act.