Biodiversity - FlipScience - Top Philippine science news and features for the inquisitive Filipino.

𝘗𝘰𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢 𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘪: a new species of leaf beetle from the Philippines (2024)

Podontia rustiai. (Photo: Orlando Calcetas & Charles Staines) Announced in July 2024, the description of a new species of leaf beetle (or flea beetle) from the Philippines was published in the Philippine Journal of Science. Podontia rustiai 𝘗. 𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘪 is similar in appearance to 𝘗. 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘷𝘢 from Borneo, but with key differences in the structures ...

November 2, 2024 | 1 min read

𝘈𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴: a new species of springtail from the Philippines (2024)

Alloscopus arborealis. (Photo: Alviola, et al via Zootaxa) In January 2024, the description of a new species of springtail from the Philippines was published in Zootaxa. 𝘼𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙪𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙨 Distribution/habitat: Mt. Makiling (Luzon, Philippines) About the species: As entomologist Dr. Aimee Lynn Barrion-Dupo wrote in a Facebook post: “Springtails are soft-bodied arthropods with ...

October 29, 2024 | 1 min read

𝘕𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘬𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘭𝘪: a new species of pitcher plant from the Philippines (2024)

Nepenthes kampalili. (Photo: Noel E. Lagunday) In April 2024, the description of a new species of pitcher plant from the Philippines (based on a specimen collected in August 2021) was published in Phytotaxa. 𝙉𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨 𝙠𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙡𝙞 Distribution/habitat: Mt. Kampalili (Mindanao, Philippines) About the species: Named after the place where it was discovered, 𝘕. 𝘬𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘭𝘪 grows solely ...

October 28, 2024 | 1 min read

𝘛𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘺𝘴 𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴: a new rodent species from the Philippines (2024)

Tarsomys orientalis. (Image: Velizar Simeonovski) In May 2024, the Philippine Eagle Foundation announced the description of a new rodent species from the Philippines (based on a specimen collected in May 2007), which was published in the Journal of Mammalogy. Tarsomys orientalis (Kampalili moss mouse) Distribution/habitat: Mt. Kampalili (Mindanao, Philippines) Endemic: Yes ...

October 16, 2024 | 2 mins read

𝘉𝘶𝘭𝘣𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘮 𝘣𝘰𝘬𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦: a new plant species from the Philippines (2024)

Bulbophyllum bokodense. (Photo: Liezel M. Magtoto) In August 2024, the Philippine Taxonomic Initiative announced the description of a new species of orchid (based on a specimen collected in July 2021) from the Philippines, which was published in Phytotaxa. 𝘽𝙪𝙡𝙗𝙤𝙥𝙝𝙮𝙡𝙡𝙪𝙢 𝙗𝙤𝙠𝙤𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚 Distribution/habitat: Mossy forest areas of Mt. Purgatory-Mangisi Traverse, Upper Agno River Basin Resource ...

October 14, 2024 | 2 mins read

𝘝𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘹, 𝘝. 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘺, and 𝘝. 𝘷𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘮: 3 new blueberry species from the Philippines (2024)

Vaccinium fallax, V. gamay, and V. vomicum. (Photos: Peter W. Fritsch; John Rey Callado; Maverick N. Tamayo) In May 2024, the Asian Blueberry Project announced the description of 3 new blueberry (Vaccinium) species from the Philippines, which were published in Phytotaxa. 𝙑𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙪𝙢 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙭 Distribution/habitat: Mt. Apo Natural Park (MANP), Mindanao Island Endemic: Yes ...

October 12, 2024 | 2 mins read

𝘝𝘪𝘯𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘪 𝘤𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘦 and 𝘝. 𝘺𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘦: 2 new insect species from the Philippines (2024)

Vinpietri cahatianae and Vinpietri yapae. (Photos: Laurent Fauvre) In March 2024, descriptions of two new insect species from the Philippines, as well as the proposal of a new genus, were published in Annales Zoologici. New Genus - 𝙑𝙞𝙣𝙥𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙞 The newly named genus 𝘝𝘪𝘯𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘪 belongs to the hemipteran family Cercopidae, which includes the insects ...

October 10, 2024 | 2 mins read

𝘗𝘴𝘺𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴: a new plant species from the Philippines (2024)

Psychotria pendens. (Photo: Raab Bustamante) In May 2024, the description of a new species of flowering plant from the Philippines was published in Phytotaxa. 𝙋𝙨𝙮𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙖 𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙨 Distribution/habitat: Mt. Victoria, Palawan (all samples collected January 2022) Endemic: Unspecified (but likely/possible) Distinctive traits: This evergreen shrub or small tree grows 1 to 4 m high, coexisting ...

October 8, 2024 | 2 mins read

𝘌𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘵𝘩𝘺𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴: a new fish species from the Philippines (2024)

Emmelichthys papillatus (Papillated redbait (English); Rebentador pula (Tagalog)). Photo: Kagoshima University Museum In March 2024, the description of a new species of fish from the Philippines was published in ZooKeys. 𝘽𝙚𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙖 𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙪𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙨 Distribution/habitat: Likely the Visayas region of the Philippines (holotype purchased in 2016 from Panay; paratypes purchased in 2013 from Cebu) Endemic: Unspecified; ...

October 6, 2024 | 2 mins read

𝘗𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘮𝘢 𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘪 and 𝘗. 𝘮𝘢𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪: 2 new insect species from the Philippines (2024)

Phantagma garciai and P. maarati. (Photos: Laurent Fauvre - P. garciai; Maxime Le Cesne - P. maarati) In March 2024, descriptions of two new insect species from the Philippines, as well as the proposal of a new genus, were published in Annales Zoologici. New Genus - 𝙋𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙢𝙖 The newly named genus 𝘗𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘮𝘢 belongs ...

October 4, 2024 | 2 mins read

𝘉𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘢 𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘶𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴: a new plant species from the Philippines (2024)

Begonia tanauanensis. (Photo: Danilo N. Tandang) In March 2024, the description of a new species of flowering plant from the Philippines was published in Phytotaxa. 𝘽𝙚𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙖 𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙪𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙨 Distribution/habitat: Tanauan City, Batangas, southern Luzon, Philippines Endemic: Yes Distinctive traits: 𝘉. 𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘶𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 has a few similarities with a 𝘉𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘢 species from eastern Luzon, 𝘉. 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘪. Both plants have light ...

October 2, 2024 | 2 mins read

𝘔𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘴 (𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘴) 𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘢𝘻𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘦 and 𝘔. (𝘛.) 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴: 2 new cave beetle species from the Philippines (2024)

Metabacetus (Trogloabacetus) baltazarae and M. (T.) desideratus. (Photos: Milton Norman Medina & Alexander Anichtchenko) In March 2024, descriptions of two new cave beetle species from the Philippines and a new subgenus were published in Zootaxa. New Subgenus - 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙡𝙤𝙖𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙩𝙪𝙨 (under 𝘔𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘴) The researchers describe 𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘴 beetles as a “transitional form” of sorts between the ...

September 30, 2024 | 2 mins read

𝘒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘺𝘢 and 𝘒. 𝘥𝘪𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘢: 2 new cave beetle species from the Philippines (2024)

Kweba magbabaya and Kweba diwata. (Photos: Milton Norman Medina & Alexander Anichtchenko) In March 2024, descriptions of two new cave beetle species from the Philippines, as well as the proposal of a new genus, were published in Zootaxa. New Genus - 𝙆𝙬𝙚𝙗𝙖 Beetles under the new genus 𝘒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝘢 are similar in appearance to ...

September 28, 2024 | 2 mins read

𝘉𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘢 𝘢𝘣𝘩𝘢𝘬: a new plant species from the Philippines (2024)

Begonia matahom. (Photos: Freddie A. Blasco, Grecebio Jonathan D. Alejandro, Danilo N. Tandang, and Rosario R. Rubite) In March 2024, the description of a new species of flowering plant from the Philippines was published in Webbia: Journal of Plant Taxonomy and Geography. 𝘽𝙚𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙖 𝙖𝙗𝙝𝙖𝙠 Distribution/habitat: Lanuza, Surigao del Sur, Philippines Endemic: Yes ...

September 26, 2024 | 1 min read

𝘈𝘳𝘨𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘮𝘢 𝘮𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘦: a new plant species from the Philippines (2024)

Argostemma mirae. (Photos: Freddie Blasco, Grecebio Jonathan Alejandro, and Danilo Tandang) In March 2024, the description of a new species of flowering plant from the Philippines was published in Phytotaxa. 𝘼𝙧𝙜𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙢𝙢𝙖 𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙖𝙚 Distribution/habitat: Mindanao (Tago, Surigao del Sur) Endemic: Yes Distinctive traits: 𝘈. 𝘮𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘦 resembles 𝘈. 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘶𝘮 in having branching and pubescent stems, oblanceolate leaves, pubescent ...

September 24, 2024 | 1 min read

𝘚𝘢𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘶𝘪𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘢: a new tropical kiwi species from the Philippines (2024)

Saurauia decolorata. Photos: Darin Penneys (L), Shiella Mae Olimpos (R) In July 2024, the description of a new species of tropical kiwi from the Philippines was published in Phytotaxa. 𝙎𝙖𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙪𝙞𝙖 𝙙𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙖 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻/𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁: Mt. Pantaron Range, Bukidnon, and Mt. Balatukan Natural Park, Misamis Oriental 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘁𝘀: 𝘚. 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘢 shares certain characteristics with two other endemic 𝘚𝘢𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘶𝘪𝘢 species. Like 𝘚. 𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘢 and 𝘚. 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘴, the ...

September 23, 2024 | 2 mins read

𝘉𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘩𝘰𝘮: a new plant species from the Philippines (2024)

Begonia matahom. (Photos: Freddie A. Blasco, Grecebio Jonathan D. Alejandro, Danilo N. Tandang, and Rosario R. Rubite via Taiwania) In March 2024, the description of a new species of flowering plant from the Philippines was published in Taiwania: International Journal of Biodiversity. 𝘽𝙚𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙝𝙤𝙢 Distribution/habitat: Mt. Tingtingan, Sitio Tingtingan, Badong, Tago, Surigao ...

September 22, 2024 | 1 min read

𝘉𝘪𝘵𝘺𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘴: a new longhorn beetle species from the Philippines (2024)

Bityle oriens. (Photos: Milton Norman Medina, Amy Ponce, and Jhonnel Villegas) In February 2024, the description of a new longhorn beetle species from the Philippines was published in the Philippine Journal of Science. 𝘽𝙞𝙩𝙮𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙨 Distribution/habitat: Mindanao (Municipality of Boston, Davao Oriental) Endemic: Possible/likely, as Philippine Cerambycidae (long-horned) species are “mostly ...

September 21, 2024 | 1 min read

𝘚𝘺𝘻𝘺𝘨𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘤𝘳𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘶𝘮: a new tree species from the Philippines (2024)

Syzygium crystalliferum. (Photos: Leonardo C. Udasco Jr. - leaves, flowers, tree; Jayson Mansibang - fruit) In February 2024, the description of a new tree species from the Philippines was published in the Nordic Journal of Botany. 𝙎𝙮𝙯𝙮𝙜𝙞𝙪𝙢 𝙘𝙧𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙪𝙢 Distribution/habitat: Carranglan, Nueva Ecija, Luzon (specimens collected in 2021) Endemic: Unknown/unconfirmed; known only from ...

September 19, 2024 | 2 mins read

𝘊𝘰𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘴: a new wasp species from the Philippines (2024)

Coeleumenes rusticanus. (Photo: Marco Selis via Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Venezia, Italy) In February 2024, the description of a new potter wasp species from the Philippines was published in Zootaxa. 𝘾𝙤𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙪𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙪𝙨 Distribution/habitat: Mindanao (Davao, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur) Endemic: Possible Distinctive traits: 𝘊. 𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘴 sports a black and ochre pattern ...

September 17, 2024 | 1 min read

𝘛𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘺𝘭𝘢 𝘫𝘰𝘩𝘯𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘪: a new tiger beetle species from the Philippines (2024)

Tricondyla johnsoni. (Photo: Alexander Anichtchenko & Jürgen Wiesner) In January 2024, the description of a new tiger beetle species from the Philippines was published in Zootaxa. 𝙏𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙮𝙡𝙖 𝙟𝙤𝙝𝙣𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙞 Distribution/habitat: Mindanao (Davao, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, and Misamis Oriental); specimens obtained in 2019 Endemic: Possible Distinctive traits: 𝘛. 𝘫𝘰𝘩𝘯𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘪 resembles another tiger beetle species found ...

September 15, 2024 | 1 min read

𝘊𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘶𝘮𝘪𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘩𝘪: a new sea star species from the Philippines (2024)

Churaumiastra hoshi. (Photos: Oliver Gomez and Christopher Mah) In January 2024, the description of a new sea star species from the Philippines was published in Zootaxa. 𝘾𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙪𝙢𝙞𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖 𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙝𝙞 Distribution/habitat: Philippines (Balut Island and Aliguay Island, Mindanao); Japan (Okinawa Island); Australia (Ashmore Reef) Endemic: No Distinctive traits: 𝘊. 𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘩𝘪 is an “extremely rare” species of ...

September 8, 2024 | 2 mins read

𝘖𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘩𝘪𝘻𝘢 𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘢: a new plant species from the Philippines (2024)

Ophiorrhiza ravifolia. (Photos: Mark Arcebal K. Naive) In January 2024, the description of a new plant species from the Philippines was published in the Nordic Journal of Botany. 𝙊𝙥𝙝𝙞𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙝𝙞𝙯𝙖 𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙖 Distribution/habitat: Naga-Kabasalan Protected Landscape, Zamboanga Sibugay (discovered in June 2023) Endemic: Yes Distinctive traits: 𝘖. 𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘢 has strong physical similarities to two other 𝘖𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘩𝘪𝘻𝘢 species, 𝘖. 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘴 and 𝘖. 𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘢 (...

September 6, 2024 | 2 mins read

𝘌𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘺𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘴 𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘧𝘰𝘹𝘪 and 𝘌𝘯𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘺𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘭𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘪: 2 new weevil species from the Philippines (2024)

Eumacrocyrtus robertfoxi and Enoplocyrtus angelalcalai. (Photos: Analyn A. Cabras) In February 2024, descriptions of two new weevil species from the Philippines were published in ZooKeys. 𝙀𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙘𝙮𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙨 𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙛𝙤𝙭𝙞 Distribution/habitat: Zambales, Luzon Island (holotype discovered in 1947) Endemic: Yes Distinctive traits: With a body length of 13.5 mm (close to the average size of a fingernail), 𝘌. 𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘧𝘰𝘹𝘪 ...

September 4, 2024 | 2 mins read

Signs we may be heading toward another mass extinction event

"Horridus," a Triceratops skeleton on display at Australia's Melbourne Museum. Photo: Mikael Angelo Francisco Mass extinction is an extremely rare yet profound event characterized by the loss of a significant portion of the Earth's species—bacteria, fungi, plants, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, invertebrates—across a wide geographic area. While ...

September 3, 2024 | 3 mins read

𝘉𝘶𝘭𝘣𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘮 𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘦 and 𝘉. 𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪: 2 new orchid species from the Philippines (2024)

Bulbophyllum barcelonae and B. pelseri. (Photos: Jayson Mansibang, John Paul Collantes, Raab Bustamante, and Leonardo Udasco) In January 2024, the Philippine Taxonomic Initiative announced the publication of two new species descriptions from the Philippines in the Nordic Journal of Botany. 𝘽𝙪𝙡𝙗𝙤𝙥𝙝𝙮𝙡𝙡𝙪𝙢 𝙗𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙚 Distribution/habitat: Mossy forest areas of the Pantabangan–Carranglan Watershed Forest ...

September 2, 2024 | 2 mins read

Biologists develop microsatellite markers for emerging seafood

Photo: Shenna Kate Torres One of the Sustainable Development Goals created by the United Nations is to "end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture." Aquaculture, the practice of farming aquatic animals and plants such as fish and seaweed, plays a critical role in achieving food ...

June 11, 2024 | 3 mins read

UP professors urge long-term monitoring of West Philippine Sea resources

Photo: Craig Soroño • At a recent public forum facilitated by the UP Diliman College of Science, professors discussed the geopolitical and ecological situation in the West Philippine Sea, as well as marine conservation strategies. • During the forum, the speakers touched upon climate change-related risks, oil spills and other threats, ...

June 1, 2024 | 6 mins read

House cats roaming freely in the wild pose threat to native species, finds study

Serafettin Ünye/Pexels Humans and cats have had a long-standing connection since time immemorial. Across millennia, cat domestication has turned the furry felines into pest control machines and even beloved companions to humans. However, this mutually beneficial relationship also has its dark side. In the Philippines, for instance, cats are ...

April 1, 2024 | 2 mins read

Pinoy scientists found this six-eyed spider in a hazardous cave. How it got there is a mystery

Dr. Aimee Lynn Barrion-Dupo Inside a small, stuffy cave in Batangas, researchers found a species of spider that has never been recorded in the Philippines before—a discovery with potential impacts on environmental policy and local tourism. A stone’s throw away from the southeastern shoreline of Lobo, Batangas, is ...

March 8, 2024 | 8 mins read

Enhancing ASEAN connectivity through digital innovation in conserving wildlife

ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity By Dr. Theresa Mundita S. Lim (Press release) On March 3, we join the global annual observance of World Wildlife Day with the theme, "Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation." The use of digital technology has been pivotal in the growth of economies ...

March 2, 2024 | 3 mins read

These unique lizard species are the real-life ‘dragons’ of Southeast Asia

ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity By Dr. Theresa Mundita S. Lim Dragons feature prominently in mythology, folklore, and many cultures across the world. These magical creatures are often described as huge, winged, serpent-like, and fire-breathing beasts. Though these mystical beings inhabit the realm of fantasy, there are real-life "dragons" that are ...

February 9, 2024 | 5 mins read

Sun’s out, root’s out? This cave plant feeds bugs and other arthropods

Dr. Aimee Lynn Barrion-Dupo/UP Los Baños By Dr. Aimee Lynn Barrion-Dupo Cave biologists have long believed that life between caves and forest ecosystems are intricately connected, with the former harboring species with specific needs provided only by the complex and minimally understood forest-cave connection. Recently, the Department of ...

January 8, 2024 | 2 mins read

This is the world’s biggest and weirdest flower. Can Pinoy scientists save it?

[nk_awb awb_type="image" awb_stretch="true" awb_image="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/BBDOwfy8mFFklX-Dm5kF2lZWNHgz9lZ2bu7IHdk5zD4rkkgILuB_U3ZtuoXol00_urg9VoSYroM1lRz5jbn92kD2qGQEGWqlI4yYMAwE9oZqh12g0A0ZTdxBfpe-CEEBIMhFxVZqlBd6gedUcn_TLg6aTbDeKvNWzY9QrqKaIGLVSPgjtjGDGgbPzXLOndR7hMX0FZ2LCewlvMgw2TjySC0Yk1JEgLggokT49rGwRqDuiLPDQ-UGi5BqI_tGyE8ga1...

May 31, 2023 | 18 mins read

This newly described ‘medusa’ plant is a star among stars

Dr. Miguel David de Leon •A newly described flowering plant, Hoya medusa, has a combination of characteristics unlike any other species in its genus. •Though there is still much to learn about H. medusa, it's highly likely that the plant is endemic to Luzon. •The description of this unique and ...

March 23, 2023 | 4 mins read

California Academy of Sciences describes 3 new Philippine species in 2021

Terry Gosliner © 2020 California Academy of Sciences •The California Academy of Sciences has released its 2021 list of newly described species. •The new species include 14 beetles, 12 sea slugs, nine ants, seven fish, six scorpions, five sea stars, five flowering plants, four sharks, three spiders, two sea pens, one moss, one pygmy pipehorse, ...

December 24, 2021 | 3 mins read

Farmer’s gold or fool’s gold? Facts about Golden Rice

Genetic Literacy Project •The Golden Rice project, which started in the 1990s, is a long time coming. •Golden Rice aims to help reduce Vitamin A deficiency, particularly in Southeast Asian countries where rice is a main staple. •Despite its humanitarian intentions, golden rice has taken center stage in many debates ...

April 1, 2021 | 4 mins read

The ‘King’s Gambit’: How a cone snail’s venom takes catfishing to a new, gruesome level

•Based on specimens from Cebu, the Conus imperialis cone snail may be using its venom not to incapacitate its prey, but to lure it—a move the researchers nicknamed "the King's Gambit." •Two of the snail's chemicals, conazolium A and genuanine, were incredibly close mimics of the pheromones that initiated ...

March 15, 2021 | 4 mins read

This frog was once named after Dr. Jose Rizal

Rafe M. Brown When Dr. Jose Rizal was in political exile in Dapitan, he spent a considerable amount of time studying nature. He collected numerous specimens of reptiles, amphibians, birds, insects, plants, and shells, many of which he sent to the Ethnographic Museum in Dresden, Germany for proper identification. One ...

December 30, 2020 | 2 mins read

Reindeer noses do turn red (though not as brightly as Rudolph’s)

Kia Krarup Hansen; Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, University of Tromsø Inspired by Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, a team of researchers from the Netherlands and Norway conducted a small but fun study in 2012: They wanted to find out why the famous fictional figure would have a shiny scarlet sniffer ...

December 28, 2020 | 2 mins read

5 little-known endangered species in the Philippines

Carmelo López Abad Did you know that the Philippines is among the 17 megadiverse countries in the world? Megadiversity refers to the presence of great biodiversity; for a country to be considered megadiverse, it must have (1) at least 5,000 endemic plants and (2) a marine ecosystem within its borders. The fact that ...

December 26, 2020 | 3 mins read

California Academy of Sciences describes 7 new Philippine species in 2020

Terry Gosliner © 2020 California Academy of Sciences •The California Academy of Sciences has released its 2020 list of newly described species. •The new species include 101 ants, 22 crickets, 15 fishes, 11 geckos, 11 sea slugs, 11 flowering plants, eight beetles, eight fossil echinoderms, seven spiders, five snakes, two skinks, two aphids, two eels, one moss, one frog, ...

December 23, 2020 | 4 mins read

Parasitic, poisonous, and named after poop: Facts about the mistletoe

Getty Images The mistletoe is an enduring icon of Christmas love, and it's a time-honored tradition for couples to stand under this Yuletide decorative staple and kiss one another. Far from being just an excuse to lock lips, though, the evergreen plant actually has both an interesting etymology and an ...

December 22, 2020 | 2 mins read

Curious sight, toxic bite: The slow loris, a unique Philippine primate

Thomas Marent/Minden Pictures/Corbis It's nighttime, and you're exploring a patch of forest in Sulu. Up ahead, you notice a peculiar creature: a big-eyed, round-headed fuzzball that looks like a three-way cross between a tarsier, a sloth, and a teddy bear. You approach the adorable little animal, and against ...

December 21, 2020 | 2 mins read

The arctic reindeer is the first mammal to show this eye-catching ability

San Diego Zoo Timeless Yuletide tunes and tales have cemented the mystical, almost mythical place of the reindeer (𝘙𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴) in popular culture. And while these uncanny ungulates can't actually make their noses glow on the same level of brightness as Rudolph's, they do have something else that they could show off ...

December 19, 2020 | 2 mins read

How temperature dictates whether sea turtles become male or female

Wikimedia Commons Unlike humans, sea turtles aren't born male or female based on chromosomes. Rather, they follow temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD), a type of environmental sex determination followed by crocodilians as well. Sea turtle sex is determined post-fertilization, at a particularly thermosensitive stage of embryonic development. The temperature of the ...

December 18, 2020 | 2 mins read

‘Monkey-eating’ misnomer: What does the Philippine eagle actually eat?

Rey Sta. Ana/orientalbirdimages.org On December 16, 1896, Scottish ornithologist William Robert Ogilvie-Grant presented a majestic, newly described bird species at the 39th meeting of the British Ornithologists' Club. Natives from Samar claimed that it "prey[ed] chiefly on the Green Monkeys" (possibly referring to macaques). Both Ogilvie-Grant and British naturalist ...

December 16, 2020 | 2 mins read

Eating and sleeping all day: the life of a giant panda

pandasinternational.org At first glance, the giant panda (𝘈𝘪𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘰𝘥𝘢 𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘶𝘤𝘢) might seem like it's living the dream. This iconic Chinese bear spends about 10 to 16 hours looking for food and eating, and the rest of its day resting and not really moving around a lot. There's a lot more to this situation than ...

December 15, 2020 | 2 mins read

Frogs don’t drink—so how do they absorb water?

Lipton Despite what internet memes featuring green anthropomorphic amphibians would have us believe, here's the real tea: Frogs are generally known to absorb water through their skin instead of drinking it. A frog's skin is permeable, particularly near its belly and thighs, allowing it to absorb water from its environment ...

December 13, 2020 | 1 min read

Meet the monotremes: a particularly peculiar group of mammals

iStock Aside from being colorful cartoon characters, Perry the Platypus and Knuckles the Echidna have one more thing in common: They're representations of the monotremes, an extremely small and rather strange group of animals. Much like other mammals, monotremes possess a single-boned mandible (lower jaw), three bones in the middle ...

December 8, 2020 | 2 mins read

How tough is a pangolin’s keratin scale armor?

Gregg Yan/Wikimedia Commons They're scaly, they're small, and they can curl up into a ball: Indeed, pangolins are curious little fellows. In a way, they're what you'd get if you combined an anteater, an armadillo, and a skunk. Pangolins are covered with scales made of keratin—yes, just like ...

December 6, 2020 | 2 mins read

Leucism vs. albinism: What’s the difference?

Roaring Earth Have you ever seen an animal that's almost entirely white, even though they're typically much more colorful? What you saw was certainly a beautiful natural oddity--but perhaps not the type you're thinking of. If an animal suffers from leucism, the cells that would produce its natural color are ...

December 4, 2020 | 1 min read

Phyllium bonifacioi: the leaf insect named after the Supremo

UPLB Museum of Natural History First discovered in 2011 during an expedition in Northern Luzon, Phyllium bonifacioi is the tenth species under the genus Phyllium (said to be the largest and most widespread group in the leaf insect family, Phylliidae) found in the Philippines. The insect was named by University of ...

November 30, 2020 | 1 min read

How herring ‘farts’ almost caused Russia and Sweden to come to blows

National Geographic Creative/Alamy Stock Photo In the early 1980s, the Swedish navy was extremely wary of Soviet activity around the Swedish coast and under their waters. Each year, Swedish military reports indicated a "typical sound" from an unidentified source that popped up on their readings. It was a peculiar ...

November 25, 2020 | 2 mins read

The corpse lily: the massive flower that smells like rotting meat

Hemera/Thinkstock With a flower that reaches up to 3.3 ft (1 m) in diameter and weighs up to 24 lbs (11 kg), Rafflesia arnoldii produces the world's largest individual blossom. Endemic to the forests of Indonesia, this plant is famous not just for its size, but also for its smell. It emits a ...

November 24, 2020 | 1 min read

Polycephaly: Why some animals are born with two heads

Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island (South Carolina) The discovery of two-headed animals in nature often makes local news headlines. There's just something about the sheer novelty of seeing a turtle or snake with two heads that fascinates us to no end. Throughout the history of the natural world, researchers, ...

November 8, 2020 | 2 mins read

Meet the tuatara, a lizard-like ‘living fossil’

Wikimedia Commons Meet the tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus), a unique creature that looks somewhat like a cross between an iguana and a dinosaur. It's the last extant representative of its order - and it has a third eye, sort of. This little fellow may look like a lizard, but it's not. ...

November 7, 2020 | 1 min read

How carrots went from being purple to orange

carrotmuseum.co.uk These days, when we think of carrots, orange is the first color that comes to mind. Interestingly enough, this wasn't always the case. Based on historical records, the first carrots domesticated for consumption in Asia and Europe were purple and yellow; this was from around the 10th ...

November 6, 2020 | 2 mins read

This massive fungus is (technically) the largest known living organism

W. J. Pilsak/Wikimedia Commons Based on a technicality, the world's largest living organism is a gigantic honey fungus colony in the United States. The colony's entirety occupies about 2,385 acres of soil; that's roughly equivalent to 22,104 basketball courts! In 1998, scientists looked into the mysterious deaths of a large number of ...

October 23, 2020 | 1 min read

Why is the water hyacinth a notorious aquatic pest?

Ted Center/USDA In 1901, a strange aquatic plant was brought into Thailand from Indonesia by Thai royalty, captivated by its peculiar beauty. Locally known as phak tob java, its lavender flowers and rounded leaves made it a decorative fixture in many palaces and mansions. Things likely would have remained that ...

October 5, 2020 | 2 mins read

Why hummingbirds are like ‘living helicopters’

Getty Images Fact: Hummingbirds are the only birds known to be capable of flying backwards for any length of time or distance without relying on the wind. Hummingbirds (family Trochilidae) are very much like living helicopters. They can fly forward, backward, left, right, diagonally, and even upside down. They can ...

October 3, 2020 | 1 min read

Is spinach really a good source of iron?

Lisa Fotios/Pexels Ever heard about how a misplaced decimal point made cartoonist Elzie Crisler Segar choose spinach (𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘢 𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘢) as the source of his famous character Popeye's strength? Popularized by Dr. Terence Hamblin in 1981, the story goes like this: In 1870, German chemist Erich von Wolff made a mistake in his notes ...

October 1, 2020 | 2 mins read

Wildlife wealth: The different animals featured on Philippine peso bills

BSP/Design Systemat The Philippines is home to a vast assortment of unique and interesting wildlife, from the crescent-horned tamaraw to the peculiar Mindanao flying dragon. Travel all over the country's many islands, and you'll find them nesting atop towering trees or swimming around the many nooks and crannies of ...

September 2, 2020 | 5 mins read

Why strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries aren’t really berries

Petr Kratochvil/CC0 Strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries are edible fruits that people all over the world enjoy in a variety of ways. They're also not actually berries, as any botanist would tell you (likely after a heavy sigh and a montage of flashbacks in their head about the delicious disaster ...

September 1, 2020 | 2 mins read

Bovine banter: 5 facts you should know about the tamaraw

Gregg Yan We all learned about the tamaraw somewhere down the line during elementary school. But unless your teacher had quite the knack for biology (or you were fascinated by all things bovine), you probably don’t remember much about it. In fact, some folks even confuse it with the ...

August 26, 2020 | 3 mins read

Why you should never carelessly approach an ostrich

Yathin S. Krishnappa/CC BY-SA 4.0 Popular myth would have you believe that ostriches (genus Struthio) bury their heads in the sand to camouflage themselves from predators. This isn't true, of course; if they did that, they wouldn't be able to breathe. Experts say that this misconception stemmed from either their ...

August 4, 2020 | 2 mins read

A slimy, slithery, and possibly poisonous congress: Facts about salamanders

Concord Monitor/Associated Press You've probably seen this in the form of a meme or a furious political status update from a friend: Supposedly, a group of baboons is called a "congress." However, as amusing as it may sound, it's actually not true. In a 2012 article, fact-checking site PolitiFact investigated ...

July 11, 2020 | 2 mins read

The Manilla Spaniel: the Pinoy dog breed you’ve never heard of

Boursnell/Country Life Magazine As weird as it may sound, this article only exists because of a low-quality photo of someone’s dog on Facebook. To be more precise, the seeds of this story were planted when a random post on my news feed caught my attention. A friend had ...

May 15, 2020 | 8 mins read

5 mahahalagang kaalaman tungkol sa mga ibong migratory

Taon-taong ipinagdiriwang ng mga bird-watcher at dalub-ibon ang World Migratory Bird Day upang mas mabigyang-pansin ang mga ibong migratory (o mga ibong lumilipad papunta sa ibang dako ng mundo sa tuwing taglamig) at ang kahalagan ng pag-protekta sa kanila. Sa totoo lang, lingid sa kaalaman ng maraming mga Pinoy na ...

May 9, 2020 | 3 mins read

4 Philippine marine animals that can kill you in one hit

Droves of marine researchers and travel-ready thalassophiles are drawn to the Philippines every year, and with good reason. The vast waters of the archipelago contain countless natural riches, rife for exploration and sightseeing. Unsurprisingly, they also serve as a haven for many species that, quite frankly, just want to be ...

April 15, 2020 | 3 mins read

The first animal cloned into de-extinction (that promptly went extinct again)

On January 6, 2000, forest rangers in Spain's Ordesa National Park found the corpse of Celia, the last Pyrenean ibex (Capra pyrenaica pyrenaica), under a fallen tree. However, biologists were eventually able to bring her species back from extinction three years later. For a few minutes, anyway. A subspecies of Iberian wild ...

January 6, 2020 | 2 mins read

Is it a bear? Is it a cat? Nope – it’s a bearcat (binturong)!

Shutterstock (Updated on January 3, 2021) Despite what its name and appearance may suggest, the binturong or Palawan bearcat (Arctictis binturong) is neither a bear nor a cat. It's a member of the family Viverridae—the same family civets belong to—and is the sole member of its genus. Oh, and it ...

January 3, 2020 | 2 mins read

5 facts about the critically endangered Philippine pangolin

The recently released report of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUNC) on the worldwide state of pangolins is, in a word, bleak. The Philippine pangolin (Manis culionensis) in particular was reclassified from “endangered” to “critically endangered,” with its population expected to fall by a staggering 80% in the very ...

December 27, 2019 | 2 mins read

California Academy of Sciences names 5 new species from the Philippines in 2019

•The California Academy of Sciences has released its 2019 list of newly described species. •The species include 17 fish, 15 geckos, eight flowering plants, six sea slugs, five arachnids, four eels, three ants, three skinks, two skates, two wasps, two mosses, two corals, and two lizards. •Five of the 71 species⁠—three fish and ...

December 10, 2019 | 3 mins read

Far from home: The problem of invasive species in Southeast Asia

•Next to habitat destruction, invasive species are the biggest causes of worldwide biodiversity loss. •The Philippines is the 36th most invaded country in the world, and has the most invasive species in Southeast Asia. •International cooperation and intensive information campaigns are critical in addressing this silent but serious issue. As ...

December 6, 2019 | 7 mins read

This handy app helps ordinary Pinoys protect local biodiversity

•The Center for Conservation Innovation PH Inc. (CCIPH) developed a mobile app for engaging citizens in biodiversity monitoring efforts. •Designed for non-scientists, the Biodiversity and Threats Monitoring App (BioMon) allows users to report animal sightings, making data collection more efficient. •The organization aims to develop the crowdsourcing app further to ...

November 5, 2019 | 3 mins read

Cockroaches are becoming tougher to kill — here’s why

With more than 4,000 species worldwide, cockroaches, which first popped up on the planet over 280 million years ago, are capable of some pretty incredible feats. They can run up to 5.5 kilometers per hour, can hold their breath for 40 minutes, and even survive without a head for a week! All of these ...

October 22, 2019 | 2 mins read

Why spiders don’t have red blood

FlipFact of the Day: Invertebrates such as spiders have an open circulatory system, which means that the oxygen-carrying fluid running through it is in contact with its muscles and its other internal fluids. This blood analogue is called hemolymph, and instead of the iron-carrying hemogoblin that we find in our ...

July 5, 2019 | 1 min read

As faithful as the Philippine eagle

Rich Lindie FlipFact of the Day: As the kids these days would say, the Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) has a romantic life that can be described as #relationshipgoals. The stories are true: It is, in fact, a monogamous, loyal partner by nature. Upon reaching sexual maturity (which takes about 5 to 7 ...

July 4, 2019 | 1 min read

The unique Philippine species named after the ‘Tarsier Man’

FlipFact of the Day: The Philippine tarsier's Latin name was changed from Tarsius syrichta to Carlito syrichta in honor of "Tarsier Man" Carlito Pizarras. Formerly a local hunter, Pizarras became a strong advocate for the species' conservation, and now works as the field supervisor of the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary. Today's ...

July 1, 2019 | 1 min read

These hopping rodents from the Philippines have a weird taste for worms

•Scientists from the Philippines and the U.S.A. discovered two new rodent species in the mountains of Camarines Sur and Aurora. •The new species, Rhynchomys labo and Rhynchomys mingan, belong to a group of mammals called tweezer-beaked hopping rats. •The researchers hope that this discovery will emphasize the need ...

June 6, 2019 | 3 mins read

10 important questions about the Philippine eagle, answered

(Updated on January 14, 2020) One would only need to take a single glance at the Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) to understand why it is the Philippines' national bird. Strong, swift, and strikingly beautiful, it is quite a sight to behold, especially when it takes flight. The Philippine eagle became the country's ...

June 4, 2019 | 4 mins read

Asian elephants are dying out–and we may need to rethink how we’re saving them

•A newly published study suggests that conservation efforts for the Asian elephant should consider indicators other than population count. •Population size and distribution statistics may fail to show a species' impending collapse in time for it to be prevented. •Thus, monitoring fertility and mortality rates across sexes and ages could ...

May 18, 2019 | 3 mins read

4 animals that recently bounced back from extinction

•A species goes extinct when all its living members perish, and becomes functionally extinct when its members can no longer reproduce. •A number of "extinct" species recently reappeared, such as the Fernandina giant tortoise, Lord Howe tree lobsters, crest-tailed mulgara, and Wallace's giant bee. •This emphasizes the need for stronger ...

May 2, 2019 | 3 mins read

Here are 4 new fish species from Manila Bay, Batangas, and Mindoro

•Researchers from foreign countries recently discovered four new species of fish in Philippine waters. •A pair of Japanese scientists found a new sardine species, possibly endemic, in Manila Bay. •Meanwhile, a team of researchers from the United States discovered three new Chromis species in Batangas and Mindoro. It is no ...

April 5, 2019 | 3 mins read

Here’s how Australia saved 13 mammal species from extinction

•An audit of Australia's animal havens revealed that they have already saved 13 mammals from extinction due to predators such as feral cats and foxes. •Scientists and conservationists worked together to conduct the country-wide audit. •Experts recommend establishing more conservation havens and stronger collaboration efforts to prevent more extinctions in the ...

March 6, 2019 | 2 mins read

This spider was discovered by accident – and named after a badass Pinay

•For the first time in 127 years, researchers described a new masteriine spider species from the Philippines. •The researchers named the spider Masteria urdujae, in honor of the legendary warrior princess Urduja. •Despite its small size, the cave-dwelling, possibly vulnerable M. urdujae may play a significant role in its ecosystem. A ...

February 17, 2019 | 4 mins read

Finding Nessie: Does the Loch Ness monster truly exist?

•The plesiosaur-like Loch Ness monster has fascinated the world ever since an alleged photo of it surfaced in 1934. •A group of scientists are in the middle of conducting a thorough analysis of the freshwater lake to verify the existence of "Nessie." •The Philippines has had its fair share of "sea ...

February 4, 2019 | 3 mins read

Rare species–and fewer birds–seen in Cagayan wetlands

•Each year, concerned organizations conduct the Asian Waterbird Census in Cagayan province, in line with a global monitoring program. •The 2019 count saw 27 species of birds in the Buguey wetlands and 15 species in Palaui Island, including a few rare species. •While the sightings increased in variety, they decreased in number. The ...

January 29, 2019 | 2 mins read

Is this animal’s DNA the key to Deadpool-level regeneration?

•The axolotl (or Mexican salamander) can perfectly regrow virtually any lost body part. •A pair of scientists from the University of Kentucky have reportedly succeeded in reconstructing the axolotl genome. •According to experts, this could significantly advance medical science and produce enhanced recovery and treatment options for the critically ill. (...

January 28, 2019 | 3 mins read

He found love in a croakless place: The world’s ‘loneliest frog’ has a date

• After 10 years of searching, scientists may have finally found a suitable mate for Romeo, a rare Sehuencas water frog (Telmatobius yuracare). • A recent expedition to the Bolivian mountain cloud forests yielded five more individuals: three males and two females. • One of the females, aptly named Juliet, is being prepped for ...

January 18, 2019 | 2 mins read

Here’s 2019’s first new shark species. Too bad it might be extinct already

• Carcharhinus obsolerus is 2019's first new shark species. • However, there have been no reported sightings of the creature for the past 80 years. • While it's highly likely that the "lost shark" is now extinct, there's still a chance that it may show up again. Meat, er, meet Carcharhinus obsolerus, the first ...

January 7, 2019 | 2 mins read

Climate change is doing something odd (and bad) to green sea turtles

• A new study predicts that by 2100, around 93% of green sea turtle hatchlings will be female due to climate change. • Sea turtle hatchlings follow temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD), becoming male or female depending on the coolness or warmth of their nests. • While TSD species have historically survived global temperature shifts, they ...

January 3, 2019 | 3 mins read

6 plant and animal species named after Filipinos in 2018

•Countless species of flora and fauna were discovered and/or named in 2018. •Some of the species got their names from noteworthy Filipinos. •Among these species are four plants and two animals. If it seems like the list of plant and animal species on Earth keeps growing each year, that's because ...

December 18, 2018 | 3 mins read

Meet 2018’s newest animal species from the Philippines

•The California Academy of Sciences officially described 229 new plant and animal species for 2018. •Collected across five continents and three oceans, the new species include 220 animals and 9 plants. •Among these species, 14 can be found in the Philippines: 11 sea slugs, a shark, a frog, and a snake. In 2018, Earth's incredibly diverse flora ...

December 16, 2018 | 4 mins read

Amazing spiders, man: The science of super-strong spider silk

•Pound for pound, spider silk has as much tensile strength as steel, but is also especially tough and stretchy. •There are seven different types of the material, with different purposes and chemical compositions. •At this time, it is both incredibly complex to replicate and prohibitively expensive to mass-produce. (Updated on ...

December 12, 2018 | 4 mins read

Human activity is bringing these birds closer to extinction

• Despite recent successes in bird conservation, quite a few species remain critically at risk. • A number of these birds are in Southeast Asia and North America. • These species have been uplisted on the list of endangered species due in large part to human activity and climate change. Humanity's destructive practices ...

December 3, 2018 | 3 mins read

Two rare bird species saved from extinction

• Active conservation efforts have helped save two rare and iconic bird species, the northern bald ibis and the pink pigeon, from looming extinction. • Meanwhile, population numbers of the red-headed woodpecker and Henslow's sparrow are slowly recovering as well. • Nevertheless, experts warn that there is still much to do in terms ...

November 28, 2018 | 2 mins read

Bunny? Doggo? Spider? Totoro? Seriously, what is this little guy?

Meet the bunny harvestman, a fascinating arachnid found in the Amazon rainforest of eastern Ecuador. At first glance, this strange creature looks like a cross between a spider and a fluffy mammal. To some, the two prongs sticking out of its abdomen are reminiscent of rabbit ears. From some angles, ...

November 6, 2018 | 2 mins read

5,300 years ago, these folks may have made the first chocolate

In 2010, archaeologist Michael Blake spotted some remarkably ornate pottery at the Santa Ana-La Florida (SALF) site in Ecuador. Interestingly, the first thing that came to his mind was hot chocolate. “I noticed they had found some very elaborate pottery, and I suggested that the vessels kind of reminded me of ...

October 30, 2018 | 2 mins read

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