retrograde planet
BBC article on first planet found in a retrograde orbit
More proof that everything that can be, IS. Recently, the collision aftermath of two large chunks (>=moon, mercury) in a planet forming disc was reported as well. Another report was issued from a conference on Exolife that K-stars(10 times more numerous than our M-type sun) might be better locales for early genesis of life. They also report that planets 2 or 3 times the size of the earth might be as well (all the better to hold the atmosphere).
It's still a big unknown universe out there, but is there any doubt there is plenty of opportunity for almost every conceivable niche of genesis evolution?