Batillipes malaysianus sp. nov., Malaysia’s newly named marine “water bear.”Kota Kinabalu: The Borneo Marine Research Institute (BMRI) of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) discovered a new marine tardigrade species, Batillipes malaysianus, along the shores of Labuan.
The find, led by Assoc Prof Dr Cheng-Ann Chen, marks Malaysia’s first update on marine tardigrades in more than 50 years and reinforces the nation’s status as a global biodiversity hotspot.
Dr Chen said the species was discovered from field surveys carried out on Nov. 29, 2023, and Sept. 16, 2024 (Malaysia Day).
“We dedicate both the discovery and the naming of Batillipes malaysianus in celebration of Malaysia’s 68th Independence Day.
The findings were published in the Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom in June this year.
Across two sampling trips, the team recorded very low densities of marine tardigrades. Among six individuals of the genus Batillipes, one was recognised as a new species and formally described as Batillipes malaysianus.
The study also documented, for the first time in Malaysia, the presence of Batillipes rotundiculus. The type material has been deposited in BMRI’s collection for permanent scientific reference.
The research team comprised Dr Chen and postgraduate student Ng Wei-Ling (BMRI, UMS), in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) and Prof Dr Tadashi Kajita of the University of the Ryukyus, Japan.
Dr Chen recommended wider coastal surveys using modern molecular methods such as environmental DNA (eDNA) to reveal the true extent of Malaysia’s microscopic marine diversity.
Reposted from: Daily Express https://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news/266958/new-marine-species-found?utm_source=Newswav&utm_medium=Website
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