Newswise — SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The International Institute for Species Exploration (IISE) at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) will announce the Top 10 New Species for 2014 this month.

Information about the Top 10 New Species will be distributed in an embargoed news release Monday, May 19. The embargo will lift at 12:01 a.m. EDT Thursday, May 22.

Information about downloading and using images will be included in the news release.

Each year since 2008, the IISE has released a list of 10 species chosen by an international committee of taxonomy experts as the top new species reported during the previous year. The honorees are chosen from among an estimated 18,000 species described for the first time each year. The purpose of the Top 10 is to draw attention to biodiversity and the science and institutions engaged in its exploration.

The Top 10 list is released each year on or about Carolus Linnaeus’ birthday, May 23. Linnaeus is the “Father of Taxonomy” and his work in the mid 18th century was the beginning point for “modern” naming and classification of plants and animals.

The mission of the IISE is to inspire, encourage and enable the advancement of taxonomy and exploration of Earth’s species. The institute was established by Dr. Quentin Wheeler, who became president of ESF in January. ESF is the oldest and largest college in the nation dedicated exclusively to the study of the environment.