New research reveals the rapid expansion of the portunid crab, Gonioinfradens giardi, highlighting ongoing biological changes in the Mediterranean Sea.
The Mediterranean Sea is undergoing rapid ecological transformations driven by climate change and human-mediated species introductions. Among the most striking processes is the increasing arrival and establishment of non-indigenous species entering through the Suez Canal, a phenomenon known as Lessepsian migration.
A new study published in Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria documents the rapid expansion of the Indo-Pacific swimming crab Gonioinfradens giardi in the Ionian Sea, off the coast of Italy. Following the first confirmed Italian record – a single specimen collected at Portopalo di Capo Passero in November 2025 – researchers documented 11 additional individuals between November 2025 and January 2026, providing early evidence that the species has moved beyond sporadic occurrence and may already be establishing stable populations in the region.
🦀A new study highlights the rapid expansion and early establishment of the non-indigenous Indo-Pacific swimming crab, Gonioinfradens giardi, along the Ionian coast of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea The research was published in the open-access journal Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria. 👉Full article here: Tiralongo F, Leotta P, Accolla H, Tibullo D, Felici A (2026) Rapid expansion of a Lessepsian migrant crab, Gonioinfradens giardi (Crustacea, Brachyura, Portunidae), in the Ionian Sea: New records and early evidence of establishment. Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria 56: 145-149. https://doi.org/10.3897/aiep.56.185183 #invasivespecies#conservation#italy
Our findings suggest that Gonioinfradens giardi is transitioning from occasional records to a more consistent presence in the central Mediterranean. This raises important questions about its potential ecological role and interactions with native species.
explains Francesco Tiralongo, lead author of the study
To reconstruct the current distribution of the species, the newly collected data integrates recent records with field observations obtained through a collaboration with local fishers utilizing standard artisanal fishing gears.
The haul of a dozen individuals within a two-month period indicates that environmental conditions are becoming more favorable for its persistence. Furthermore, these captures mark the westernmost presence of the species in the Mediterranean Sea to date.
Distribution map of Gonioinfradensgiardi; new records along the Ionian coast of Sicily are shown in yellow (circles), while the red circle indicates the first published record. Credit to Tiralongo et al., 2026
The rapid emergence of this species highlights how dynamic and responsive Mediterranean ecosystems are to ongoing environmental changes. Documenting these early phases of establishment is crucial for understanding future ecological scenarios and supporting informed management decisions.
adds Alberto Felici, co-author of the study
The establishment of non-indigenous crustaceans may have cascading effects on local ecosystems, including competition with native species and potential implications for fisheries. While the long-term impacts of G. giardi remain uncertain, its rapid spread reflects broader changes already underway in Mediterranean marine biodiversity.
Gonioinfradens giardi, credit to Francesco Tiralongo.
This case adds to a growing list of species reshaping Mediterranean ecosystems. Continuous monitoring, including contributions from fishers and citizen scientists, will be essential to track these dynamics and support adaptive management strategies.
Tiralongo adds
The study contributes to the expanding body of evidence that the Mediterranean Sea is becoming a hotspot for biological invasions, emphasizing the need for coordinated research and monitoring efforts at regional and basin-wide scales.
Original source:
Tiralongo F, Leotta P, Accolla H, Tibullo D, Felici A (2026) Rapid expansion of a Lessepsian migrant crab, Gonioinfradens giardi (Crustacea, Brachyura, Portunidae), in the Ionian Sea: New records and early evidence of establishment. Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria 56: 145-149. https://doi.org/10.3897/aiep.56.185183
Two new species of half leaf-fingered geckos have been discovered in Vietnam, one was named in honor of the renowned herpetologist Prof. Dr. Thomas Ziegler.
The half leaf-fingered geckos (Hemiphyllodactylus) are a diverse group with more than 70 recognized species and a distribution range from southern India and Sri Lanka, through Indochina and Southeast Asia, to the western Pacific region.
As a result of its cryptic lifestyle and small body size, its diversity had been neglected until a recent surge of integrative taxonomic research, which combines different lines of evidence, most importantly molecular and morphological data.
Over the last ten years, more than 60 members of the genus (~85% of its diversity) have been newly described. Vietnam is a hot spot for new species discoveries with at least 10 congeners uncovered in recent years, including H. banaensis, H. bonkowskii, H. cattien, H. dalatensis, H. lungcuensis, H. nahangensis, H. ngocsonensis, H. vanhoensis, H. yenchauensis, and H. zugi.
Male Hemiphyllodactylus ziegleri. Photo credit to Anh Van Pham.
A newly published paper in ZooKeys reveals another new species within Hemiphyllodactylus, Hemiphyllodactylus ziegleri, from Copia Nature Reserve, Son La Province, northwestern Vietnam.
The new species is currently known only from this protected area, established in 2002. Although its range is estimated at less than 50 km², the area has been experiencing severe habitat degradation, primarily as a result of road construction and timber logging.
The new species honours Prof. Dr. Thomas Ziegler, a world-class herpetologist and conservation biologist of Cologne Zoo and the University of Cologne, who has made remarkable contributions to biodiversity research and conservation in Southeast Asia, especially to its the herpetofauna. Prof. Ziegler was involved in the descriptions of seven Hemiphyllodactylus species from Vietnam.
In addition to his more than three decades of engagement in taxonomic and ecological studies – spanning lizards, snakes, turtles, salamanders, frogs, and other vertebrates and invertebrates – Prof. Ziegler has made substantial contributions across herpetology broadly.
As for Hemiphyllodactylus, the current taxonomy is believed to substantially underestimate its diversity, especially in the karst ecosystem, as recent discoveries demonstrate that this particular habitat harbors a high number of cryptic species.
Adult male Hemiphyllodactyluspakhaensis. Credit to Ha HB et al., 2026
Coinciding with the publication of H. ziegleri, another karst-dwelling species – H. pakhaensis from Son La Province – was reported in ZooKeys. These discoveries bring the total species count to 12, suggesting that additional surveys in remote areas of the country and elsewhere in Southeast Asia will likely reveal many new congeners and highlight the importance of this unique, but highly imperiled ecosystem.
Original sources
Pham AV, Nguyen TQ, Pham CT, Ngo HT, Le MD (2026) Hemiphyllodactylus ziegleri sp. nov. (Squamata, Gekkonidae), a new karst-dwelling gecko species from Son La Province, Vietnam. ZooKeys 1268: 75-94. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1268.174678
Ha HB, Hoang TT, Nguyen MD, Ha NV, Luu VQ (2026) A new species of Hemiphyllodactylus Bleeker, 1860 (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from Son La Province, Vietnam. ZooKeys 1268: 163-188. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1268.177040
Guest Blog Post by Lucía Villaescusa-González and Pablo Muñoz-Rodríguez
Since the first humans learned to distinguish the plant that cured a fever from the one that caused a funeral, we have amassed an extraordinary amount of information about the natural world. Whether used for food, medicine, or shelter, this ethnobotanical knowledge passed down through generations now serves as the foundation for modern experimental research.
Today, researchers explore the world’s plant chemical diversity seeking new compounds and species of medicinal or economic interest. However, discovering these resources and sharing the information effectively depends on one often-overlooked key: naming things correctly.
Taxonomy ensures that, when researchers identify a promising use of a plant, the rest of the scientific community can find that plant again, replicate the results, and build upon them. In a time of accelerated biodiversity loss, taxonomy provides the framework that allows us to document biodiversity and connect knowledge about species before they are lost.
For nearly two decades, our research group has focused on Acalypha, a remarkably diverse genus of flowering plants with approximately 450 species. It is the third largest genus in the family Euphorbiaceae —the same as cassava, poinsettia or the rubber tree— yet many aspects of its biology remain poorly understood. While numerous studies have pointed to the medicinal relevance of Acalypha, the information has historically been scattered across disconnected sources and regions.
To fully explore a plant group’s potential, we must ensure our knowledge is organised and reliable. This is precisely where taxonomy becomes powerful. In a study recently published in PhytoKeys, we compiled, revised, and standardised existing knowledge about Acalypha uses published worldwide between 1816 and 2024.
Our review, published in the open-access journal PhytoKeys, revealed that nearly 25% of the studies we analysed contained at least one taxonomic error. These errors ranged from the use of non-existent names and already outdated synonyms at the time of publication to “impossible” data, such as species allegedly collected for research in countries thousands of kilometres away from their known distribution range.
By verifying every scientific name against current standards, we were able to provide the first standardised, reliable global synthesis of the genus. Furthermore, this process allowed us to clear the “noise” from the literature and identify exactly which species hold the most promise for future research.
Geographical distribution of Acalypha ethnobotanical knowledge. Top: number of studies with ethnobotanical information per country. Bottom: number of species with reported medicinal uses per country. Darker colours indicate higher values. Author: Villaescusa-González et al.
A clearer global picture
Once we brough this information together under a robust taxonomic framework, a much clearer picture of Acalypha medicinal uses emerged. We identified 62 species with documented medicinal uses across 55 countries. While the genus is used globally, pharmacological research is heavily concentrated in India, Nigeria, and Mexico.
In contrast, species-rich countries such as Brazil and Madagascar, with over 40 species each, remain significantly underrepresented. Also, while many species are used locally, a few are globally relevant: Acalypha indica, for example, is used to treat 23 different disease categories, while Acalypha wilkesiana, a common ornamental plant, is linked to 18 disease categories.
Our work revealed that these plants are used not just for human medicine; they are used in veterinary medicine, as pesticides targeting disease-carrying insects, and in ritual contexts. In human health, they most frequently target infectious and parasitic diseases, digestive tract issues, and respiratory symptoms.
Finally, we also detected a big gap between traditional use and modern research: of all species recorded in ethnobotanical surveys, 36 have never been studied in a laboratory. They represent a promising avenue for future research and drug discovery.
Acalypha argomuelleri, a shrub growing in the Peruvian Andes. Author: Pablo Muñoz-Rodríguez
Why this matters for the future
The relationship between ethnobotany and experimental biology is widely recognised, and taxonomy plays a key role in bridging these fields. Accurate taxonomic knowledge is essential for ensuring scientific discovery and reproducibility.
When experimental research investigates plants that have been incorrectly identified, it leads to the perpetuation of errors in scientific literature. If pharmacological results are based on misidentified specimens, those experiments cannot be replicated, potentially misleading years of subsequent, expensive medical research.
Glandular hairs in Acalypha ecklonii, a species from Southern Africa. Author: Emma Ortúñez & Roberto Gamarra.
By integrating scattered ethnobotanical reports into a standardised, taxonomically reliable system, we wanted to provide a reliable map for all future Acalypha research. This study proves that precise identification is the basis of scientific discovery.
In an era of accelerated biodiversity loss, applying taxonomy to organise and validate the data we have today ensures the discovery of the medicines of tomorrow.
Original source
Villaescusa-González L, Cardiel JM, Montero-Muñoz I, Muñoz-Rodríguez P (2026) Revisiting Acalypha medicinal interest: ethnobotany, experimental studies, and the implications of taxonomic misuse pitfalls. PhytoKeys 270: 119-142. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.270.169087
Don’t forget to also keep yourself up-to-date with the latest discoveries described in PhytoKeys by signing up for the journal newsletter from the PhytoKeys homepage. You can also follow the journal on BlueSky and Facebook.
A research team from the National Taiwan Normal University has clarified the status of a secretive reptile through a new study published in the open-access journal ZooKeys. Led by Si-Min Lin, the team focused on the Formosan legless lizard, scientifically known as Dopasia formosensis. These lizards are among the most secretive and least studied groups in Taiwan, living primarily under leaf litter and humus in moist forests. This elusive behavior makes field observations and ecological studies extremely difficult.
The study resolves a century of taxonomic debate over whether Taiwan’s legless lizards comprise one species or two. For decades, these populations were classified as Dopasia harti, a status complicated by the loss of the original Dopasia formosensis type specimen after World War II. To stabilise the identity of the species and re-establish it as the distinct lineage Dopasia formosensis, the research team has designated a “neotype” – this is a new physical specimen that serves as the official reference for the species name.
Dopasiaformosensis in natural habitat: A fully mature adult male showing its dorsal bluish marking; A relatively younger male; A young individual with pale brown dorsal coloration and sharply contrasting black ventral surface. (Photo credit: Yu-Jhen Liang).
Physical Characteristics
The Formosan legless lizard is a medium-sized reptile that lacks external limbs. Adult males typically have a body length between 175 and 230 millimeters, while females are similar in size. A key feature of this species is its exceptionally long tail, which can be nearly double the length of its body.
People often mistake these lizards for snakes, but they possess several distinct features that set them apart. Unlike snakes, legless lizards have external ear openings, although they are quite small. They also have moveable eyelids, which means they can blink, a trait no snake possesses. Further, these lizards have a prominent lateral fold, which is a longitudinal groove running along each side of the body. This fold allows the skin to expand, which is useful for breathing and when females are carrying eggs.
Head morphology of the neotype of Dopasiaformosensis; an adult male from Mingchi, Yilan County, Taiwan. (Photo credit: Chih-Wei Chen and Chin-Chia Shen).
Etymology and Colouration
The species name formosensis is rooted in the historical name for Taiwan, “Formosa”, derived from the Portuguese phrase Ilha Formosa (“Beautiful Island”). The name combines this geographical reference with the Latin suffix “-ensis”, which indicates the place of origin.
Top: Landscape near the type locality of Dopasia formosensis in Hinokiyama, currently known as a part of the Fuba Cross-ridge Trail.
Bottom: Landscape of the collection site of the neotype near Mingchi, Yilan, Taiwan. (Photo credits: Chung-Wei You and Kai-Xiang Chang).
The study also clarified a major point of ambiguity regarding the species’ color. Previously, lizards with bright blue spots were thought to be a different species than those without them. The research team confirmed that these markings are actually a form of sexual dichromatism – while females and young lizards usually have a plain pale brown or bronze color, fully mature adult males often display these conspicuous blue markings as a form of secondary sexual signalling.
Behavioural Characteristics
Since these legless lizards are so rarely seen, the research team relied on citizen science data from the Taiwan Roadkill Observation Network to gather information. In the wild, these lizards prefer high-humidity environments in mid-elevation forests with dense canopy cover.
Sampling sites of Dopasiaformosensis (Kishida, 1930), D.harti (Boulenger, 1899), and D.hainanensis (Yang, 1983) available from GenBank.
The researchers also noted parental care as a key behavioural characteristic for the species, suggesting that they may exhibit more complex social behaviors than many other reptiles. In related species within the Dopasia genus, for instance, females are known to exhibit egg-guarding behavior, where they remain with their clutch to protect it from predators and environmental hazards until the offspring hatch.
Egg guarding by a female Dopasiaformosensis in the wild, observed in Pingtung County, southern Taiwan. (Photo credit: Weizun Wang).
A prior study documenting the species now recognised as Dopasia formosensis (previously identified as D. harti) notably also detailed its interesting fighting behavior. The encounter begins with a ritualised display where the lizards circle each other with mouths agape, flattened throats, and elevated forebodies. This posturing eventually escalates into physical combat, characterised by one-sided biting and rotational rolling as the males attempt to subdue one another.
Conclusion
The Formosan legless lizard is currently listed as a protected species under Taiwanese law. The research team emphasises that a stable scientific name and clear understanding of the species is critical for future conservation.
“Through these efforts, we aim to provide a more stable framework for future taxonomic, ecological and conservation studies of this overlooked lizard group.”
The Research Team
By making their data openly available, they hope to encourage further study of these unique animals across East Asia.
Original source:
Lin S-M, Shen C-C, Lin T-E, Liang Y-J, Chang W-H (2026) Redescription and neotype designation of Dopasia formosensis (Kishida, 1930) (Squamata, Anguidae) from Taiwan. ZooKeys 1270: 69-98. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1270.173752
For more articles on zoology, visit the ZooKeys website and follow the journal on BlueSky and Facebook.
Researchers have announced the discovery of 24 new deep-sea amphipod species – including one new superfamily – from the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), in the central Pacific Ocean.
Researchers have announced the discovery of 24 new deep-sea amphipod species – including one new superfamily – from the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), in the central Pacific Ocean.
The discoveries have been published as part of a new open-access ZooKeys special issue, mark a significant advance in identifying the biodiversity of the CCZ – an area which spans six million square kilometres between Hawai’i and Mexico.
The research revealed a number of firsts for science, with 24 newly described species spanning 10 amphipod families, including predators and scavengers.
Map of the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), Central Pacific Ocean. A. Contract areas from which samples were collected; B. Detail of the central BGR exploration contract area; C. Detail of the eastern CCZ contract areas and APEI-6. (Image credit: Horton et al.).
Notable discoveries include:
A new family (Mirabestiidae) and superfamily (Mirabestioidea), revealing completely new evolutionary branches.
Two new genera (Mirabestia and Pseudolepechinella).
Deepest-known records for multiple genera.
First molecular barcodes for rare species.
“To find a new superfamily is incredibly exciting, and very rarely happens so this is a discovery we will all remember.
With more than 90% of species in the CCZ still unnamed, each species described is a vital step towards improving our understanding of this fascinating ecosystem.
Describing the species encountered during these studies is a critical step in documenting the rich biodiversity of the CCZ, enabling us to communicate effectively about the fauna.”
Dr Tammy Horton
Syrrhoe manowitzae sp. nov. (Image credit: Hughes et al.).
A Global Collaboration
Taxonomy is vital to understanding the fauna of the CCZ, providing fundamental knowledge of species, their distributions, and how each species contributes to the fragile ecosystem.
The collaborative project also demonstrated the effectiveness of running coordinated and focused taxonomic workshops, providing a model way of working for the future.
Participants of the taxonomic workshop at University of Lodz in 2024. (Image credit: Anna Jażdżewska).
“This was a truly collaborative process that allowed us to achieve the ambitious goal of describing more than 20 species new to science within a year – something that would not have been possible if each of us worked independently.
The team’s findings provide information that is crucial for future conservation and policy decisions, and it highlights how important it is for this work to continue.”
Anna Jażdżewska, University of Lodz
Through initiatives such as these describing around 25 species per year, the amphipods in the eastern CCZ could be almost completely known within 10 years.
What’s in a name?
New species must each be named, and that honour falls to the research team who often draw inspiration from those around them.
Many of the 24 new species have been given meaningful names by those who have spent time learning about them and describing them.
Co-leads Dr Tammy Horton and Anna Jażdżewska both saw species named for them, Byblis hortonae, Thrombasia aniaandByblisoides jazdzewskae (respectively).
Byblis hortonae sp. nov. (Image credit: Peart et al.).
A. CLSM photograph of Thrombasia ania sp. nov. B microscope photograph of Thrombasia ania sp. nov. (Image credit: Anna Jażdżewska).
Byblisoides jazdzewskae sp. nov. (Image credit: Peart et al.).
Dr Horton named one of the species in the new superfamily (Mirabestia maisie) after her daughter, who has waited several years to join her siblings in having that unusual honour.
A. Mirabestia maisie sp. nov. immature; B.Mirabestia maisie sp. nov. mature female. (Image credit: Horton et al.).
There was an opportunity to pay tribute to the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), with Eperopeus vermiculatus being given the name in recognition of WoRMS which researchers described as providing a ‘wonderful resource for all marine taxonomists’.
Eperopeus vermiculatus sp. nov., habitus of the female holotype. Photograph of preserved specimen. (Image credit: Tammy Horton).
Involving early‑career scientists (including students) also allowed them to leave their mark in the species names, by commemorating their relatives and by creating intriguing links between the deep sea and the virtual world. According to the author, one species, Lepidepecreum myla, resembles Myla (a character from a video game), as both ‘are just little arthropods trying to survive in total darkness.’
Lepidepecreum myla sp. nov. A. Photograph of unstained individual before manipulation; B. CLSM photography; C. Dorsal view of the animal. (Image credit: Horton et al.).
The team also drew inspiration from linguistics for one species, with Pseudolepechinella apricity representing the spirit of warmth of friendship that came from the week-long workshop.
“Apricity means the feeling of the warmth of the winter sun, and it is one of my favourite words. It was very apt to use during the workshop as we discussed our findings in the warmth of the February sun amid the snow of the Polish winter in Lodz. It was certainly fitting to also use it for one of our amphipod discoveries.
We came together as research colleagues, but the spirit of collaboration and shared experience shone through, so it was important to recognise that in our work.”
Dr Tammy Horton
Pseudolepechinella apricity sp. nov. (Image credit: Horton et al.).
ENDS
About the National Oceanography Centre (NOC)
The UK’s National Oceanography Centre (NOC) is one of the world’s top ocean research institutions. NOC’s scientists work around the globe, uncovering links between the ocean, climate change and biodiversity loss, to help every living thing on our planet flourish.
NOC solves challenging multidisciplinary, large scale, long-term marine science problems to underpin international and UK public policy, business and societal outcomes.
NOC is a company limited by guarantee set up under the law of England and Wales (11444362) and registered as a charity (1185265).
NOC operates the Royal Research Ships James Cook and Discovery and develops technology for coastal and deep ocean research.
Working with its partners NOC provides long-term marine science capability including: sustained ocean observations, mapping and surveying; data management; modelling and scientific research and advice.
Among the resources that the NOC provides on behalf of the UK are the British Oceanographic Data Centre (BODC), the Marine Autonomous and Robotic Systems (MARS) facility, the National Marine Equipment Pool (NMEP), the National Tide and Sea Level Facility (NTSLF), the Permanent Service for Mean Sea Level (PSMSL) and British Ocean Sediment Core Research Facility (BOSCORF).
About the University of Lodz (UL), Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection and Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology
The University of Lodz is a vibrant academic community whose history began on 24 May 1945. Although we are one of the youngest universities in Poland, today we rank among the country’s largest public institutions of higher education.
More than 20,000 students learn across our 12 faculties, supported by an engaged academic community of teachers, researchers, and professional staff. Together, we create an environment shaped not only by knowledge, but by everyday collaboration and shared responsibility.
Scientific research at the Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection (FB&EP) has been conducted since the establishment of the University of Lodz. The Faculty is one of the largest biological faculties in Poland that carries out research within the area of all disciplines of biological sciences at the European level. Research projects carried out at the FB&EP encompass basic, applied, as well as methodological studies.
The Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology is one of the oldest units established at the founding of the University of Lodz. As a dynamic and international group of researchers at various career stages, the Department conducts studies on biodiversity, taxonomy, and the ecology of diverse invertebrate groups (including marine fauna), using a wide range of methods—from traditional microscopy to advanced molecular analyses.
About Pensoft Publishers
Pensoft is an independent, open-access scholarly publisher and technology provider, best known for its 30+ biodiversity journals, including ZooKeys, Biodiversity Data Journal, PhytoKeys, MycoKeys, One Ecosystem, and Metabarcoding and Metagenomics. Ever since becoming the first to introduce semantic enrichments and hyperlinks within a scientific article in the field of biodiversity in 2010, Pensoft has been working on various tools and workflows designed to facilitate data findability, accessibility, discoverability and interoperability.
Biological invasions are a major driver of biodiversity loss and invasive pollinators can reshape native plant-pollinator networks. A new study published in the journal NeoBiota, reveals that invasive pollinators are fundamentally reshaping native plant-pollinator networks in Chile, leading to a “silent takeover” that threatens the stability of one of the world’s most unique biodiversity hotspots.
Chile functions as a “biogeographical island,” isolated by the Andes Mountains, the Atacama Desert, and the Pacific Ocean. While this isolation has created a highly specialized ecosystem, it also makes the region particularly sensitive to change.
Despite this vulnerability, Chile has a long history of introducing non-native bees for agricultural purposes. A collaborative team of Chilean and Brazilian researchers sought to understand and quantify the long-term impact of these introductions, specifically focusing on how non-native pollinators like the Bombus terrestris (the buff-tailed bumblebee) affect native species.
Tracking the “Silent Takeover”
Western honeybee (Apis mellifera). Credit to Dr. Francisco Fontúrbel.
Buff-tailed bumblebee(Bombus terrestris). Credit to Dr. Francisco Fontúrbel.
To assess the impact, researchers analyzed over 2,100 records, merging historical scientific data with citizen-science data. They focused on three non-native species: the western honeybee (Apis mellifera), the buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), and the large garden bumblebee (Bombus ruderatus).
The motivation was to understand whether these invasions were simply adding species to the system or quietly transforming it from within.
еxplains Dr. Rafaela Cabral Marinho, the lead author of the study
The study’s key finding points to the overwhelming dominance of Bombus terrestris, which accounted for more than 70% of recorded interactions in the combined dataset.
That level of integration into a national pollination network is remarkable for a relatively recent invader.
notes Dr. Barbara Guimarães, one of the researchers
Аlso, the invasive bees showed strong interaction with non-native plants and displayed highly generalist behavior. To further measure the impact on pollination networks, the team compared data from before and after 2005, the year B. terrestris began to be used extensively in open fields. They identified a concerning shift: native species like Bombus dahlbomii were being gradually displaced.
The networks did not collapse; instead, they became more generalized and homogenized. Native bees were not always disappearing completely. The system kept functioning, but in a different way. This quiet reorganization is what led us to describe the process as a ‘silent takeover.
explain the researchers
The power of citizen science
Citizen science. Photo credit to Pavel Borodenkov from Unsplash.
The study also highlighted the vital role of public engagement.
We were surprised by the volume and value of citizen science contributions, and how they can provide meaningful insights when combined with research data.
says Dr. Fontúrbel, one of the researchers
This proved that citizen science is an essential tool for detecting and tracking the spread of invasive species in ecosystems, providing direct information for conservation actions.
A call for interaction-based conservation
Western honeybee (Apis mellifera). Credit to Dr. Francisco Fontúrbel.
One key takeaway is that biological invasions are not always catastrophic overnight events. They can be gradual reorganizations of ecological relationships. While invasive bees may increase pollination for certain crops, they can simultaneously reduce the specialization and stability of native mutualisms. Over time, this may lead to biotic homogenization, ecosystems becoming more similar to one another and less unique.
add the researchers
“Our research highlights that conservation is not only about protecting species, but it is also about protecting interactions,” they conclude.
The researchers advocate for coordinated policies regarding species introductions, early detection monitoring, and continued public engagement to safeguard the integrity of Chile’s biodiversity.
Original source:
Marinho RC, Guimarães BMdaC, Carvallo GO, Maruyama PK, Murúa MM, Rech AR, Vieli L, Oliveira PE, Fontúrbel FE (2026) Silent takeover: How invasive bees reshaped plant-pollinator interactions in a biodiversity hotspot. NeoBiota 105: 259-274. https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.105.174573
Cute, green, and sporting two sprigs of hair on his head, a mischievous baby dinosaur named Dooly is one of the most beloved cartoon characters in South Korea.
So, when researchers from The University of Texas at Austin and the Korean Dinosaur Research Center discovered a new species of baby dinosaur from Korea’s Aphae Island, they knew exactly what to call it: Doolysaurus.
“Dooly is one of the very famous, iconic dinosaur characters in Korea. Every generation in Korea knows this character. And our specimen is also a juvenile or ‘baby’, so it’s perfect for our dinosaur species name to honor Dooly.���
The newly discovered dinosaur species is named after the popular South Korean cartoon Dooly the Little Dinosaur. The titular Dooly is on the left. Credit: ⓒDoolynara.
Dooly the Little Dinosaur (on left) with other characters from the popular cartoon. Credit: ⓒDoolynara.
The baby dinosaur is the first new dinosaur species discovered in Korea in 15 years and the first Korean dinosaur fossil found with portions of its skull. The skull bones were revealed when the fossil underwent a scientific micro-CT scan at the University of Texas High-Resolution X-ray Computed Tomography (UTCT) facility.
“When we first found the specimen, we saw some leg bones preserved and some vertebrae. We didn’t expect skull parts and so many more bones. There was a fair amount of excitement when we saw what was hidden inside the block.”
Jongyun Jung
Research on the dinosaur, whose scientific name is Doolysaurus huhmini, is published in the open-access journal Fossil Record. The name huhmini honours the Korean paleontologist Min Huh, who has contributed to the study of Korean dinosaurs over the past 30 years, founded the dinosaur center, and worked with UNESCO to preserve dinosaur fossil sites in Korea. The fossil was discovered in 2023 by co-author Hyemin Jo, a researcher at the dinosaur center.
Researchers from The University of Texas at Austin and the Korean Dinosaur Center with a possible dinosaur skeleton on Aphae Island. From left to right: Julia Clarke, Min Huh, Hyemin Jo, Jongyun Jung. Credit: Jongyun Jung.
The dinosaur found by Jo is estimated to be about two years old and was still growing when it died. It’s about the size of a turkey, but an adult Doolysaurus may have grown to twice that size. It also may have been covered in a coat of fuzzy filaments.
“I think it would have been pretty cute. It might have looked a bit like a little lamb.”
Julia Clarke, study co-author and a professor at the Jackson School
The fossil is largely encased by hard rock, which can take close to a decade for a trained preparator to excavate by hand. But analysis of the micro-CT scan revealed the full extent of the fossil in a few months. Jong and Clarke then spent more than a year analysing the anatomy with their coauthors. CT technology has become a critical tool for revealing delicate fossils, such as birds and small non-avian dinosaurs, fossilised in hard rocks, said Clarke.
Doolysaurus lived about 113-94 million years ago during the mid-Cretaceous. Based on its anatomy, the researchers classified it as a thescelosaurid, a type of bipedal dinosaur that lived in East Asia and North America that may have had a fuzzy coat. Researchers could tell it was a juvenile based by observing growth markers on a thin slice of femur bone.
Study co-authors Minguk Kim (left) and Hyemin Jo during the initial discovery and excavation of Doolysaurus. Credit: Jongyun Jung.
The fossil also contained dozens of gastroliths, pebbles that the baby dinosaur swallowed in life to help with digesting food. The stones suggest that the dinosaur was an omnivore, eating plants, insects and small animals. They are also what prompted the researchers to look closer and scan the fossil. That’s because gastroliths are small and light-weight, and the fact that they had remained in place suggested that other parts of the fossil may still be there too.
“A little cluster of stomach stones, with two leg bones sticking out indicates that the animal was not fully pulled apart before it has hit the fossil record,” Clarke said. “So, I encouraged [Jung and co-authors Minguk Kim and Hyemin Jo] to visit Texas and the UTCT, to try scanning the fossil.”
Julia Clarke
The skeletal anatomy of a juvenile Doolysaurus huhmini. The graphic highlights the fossil bones that were found with the dinosaur. Artwork: Janet Cañamar, adapted from Jung et al 2026.
Kim and Jo are using the CT analysis skills they learned at the Jackson School to study more fossils in Korea. Jung is planning a trip back to Aphae Island to collect more fossils. South Korea is known for fossils of dinosaur tracks, nests, and eggs. While rich in these “trace” fossils, it has a noticeable dearth of actual dinosaur bones.
Jung said it’s possible that, like Doolysaurus, they’re largely hidden in the rock. He’s hopeful that micro-CT technology can lead to even more dinosaurs finds in Korea.
“We’re expecting some new dinosaur or other egg fossils to come from Aphae and other small islands,” he said.
Jung J, Kim M, Jo H, Clarke JA (2026) A new dinosaur species from Korea and its implications for early-diverging neornithischian diversity. Fossil Record 29(1): 87-113. https://doi.org/10.3897/fr.29.178152
Cover image:
An artist’s interpretation of a juvenile Doolysaurus huhmini. It is depicted alongside birds and other dinosaurs that lived during the Cretaceous in what is now South Korea. Artwork by Jun Seong Yi.
Reposted with permission from The University of Texas Jackson School of Geosciences.
What is now celebrated globally as Taxonomist Appreciation Day began in 2013. 19 March was declared by Dr. Terry McGlynn – a researcher and professor at California State University, Dominguez Hills – as a new holiday to highlight the extraordinary importance of taxonomy and taxonomist scientists to research in other fields.
Last year saw fascinating discoveries in the world of marine life. And today, we are super excited to share with you the species that made it to the Top 10 this year, first published in Pensoft’s open-access journal ZooKeys.
How are these lists compiled? It is a rigorous process, where WoRMS first invites all their editors to nominate their favourites, and then asks a small committee of taxonomists and data managers to provide their votes.
Now, without further ado, join us into the Dark Side to find out exactly why and how this particular species turned up at the top.
The Supergiant Isopod
The head of Bathynomus vaderi. Image by Nguyen Thanh Son
Meet Bathynomus vaderi, a supergiant isopod belonging to the genus Bathynomus. Species from this genus can reach more than 30 cm in length and are known in Vietnam as bọ biển or “sea bugs.” Bathynomus vaderi marks the first record of such a species in Vietnamese waters.
As you might have guessed, the moniker vaderi is inspired by the appearance of its head, which closely resembles the distinctive and iconic helmet of Darth Vader, the most famous character of Star Wars.
From the Market to the Lab
Prof. Peter Ng examining giant isopods from a seafood market in Hanoi, October 2024. Photo by Nguyen Thanh Son
Dr. Conni Sidabalok examining individuals of Bathynomus vaderi at Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, Singapore. Photo by Rene Ong
The story of how it was found is quite compelling. In contrast to the traditional image of deep-sea expeditions, Bathynomus vaderi was obtained from local sellers where the isopods are fished.
In March 2022, staff from Hanoi University purchased four giant isopod individuals from Quy Nhơn City and sent two of them to Peter Ng from the National University of Singapore for identification. Subsequently, this sparked an international collaboration between Ng, Conni M. Sidabalok (National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia), and Nguyen Thanh Son (Vietnam National University). Together, this expert team studied the specimens and confirmed they had discovered a species new to science.
Video by Kyle Hill on YouTube.
A Deep-Sea Delicacy
Giant isopods like Bathynomus vaderi have become an expensive delicacy in Vietnam. Until 2017, local fishermen only sold them as low-priced bycatch, but in recent years, the media has drawn public attention to this unusual seafood. Some even claim it is more delicious than lobster, the “king of seafood.”
The Importance of the Find
News story by Margherita Bassi via the Smithsonian magazine.
This discovery is a reminder of just how much we still don’t know about the vast deep-sea environment. If such a supergiant isopod could remain hidden for so long, it speaks to the extraordinary amount of work still needed to uncover the rich biodiversity of Southeast Asian waters – work that depends on the combined efforts of researchers and taxonomists, whose contributions are at the frontline of conservation.
The celebration is not over; we invite you to explore the Pensoft-published species that have previously made it to the WoRMS Top 10 and revisit the ocean’s most fascinating discoveries:
Ng PKL, Sidabalok CM, Nguyen TS (2025) A new species of supergiant Bathynomus A. Milne-Edwards, 1879 (Crustacea, Isopoda, Cirolanidae) from Vietnam, with notes on the taxonomy of Bathynomus jamesi Kou, Chen & Li, 2017. ZooKeys 1223: 289-310. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1223.139335
A gruelling two-day trek into the remote upper Pastaza basin has revealed a new inhabitant of the Ecuadorian Andes: Pristimantis fergusoni. In a new study published in the open-access journal ZooKeys, a research team led by Juan Pablo Reyes-Puig of Fundación EcoMinga and the Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (INABIO) has recently described this fascinating species of spiny frog.
Taxonomy and Fieldwork
Reyes-Puig discusses the primary motivations behind the team’s study:
“Due to its great diversity, Pristimantis is a genus that requires constant taxonomic work, especially in remote and little-studied areas. One such area is the upper Pastaza basin in the central Andes of Ecuador.
Although we have studied this region for almost two decades, each new exploration brings surprises, such as the case of the new Pristimantis fergusoni.”
This constant taxonomic revision stems from the sheer scale of the genus; frogs of the Pristimantis group currently comprise 626 species. Historically, limited scientific funding meant that many of these were described primarily on the basis of morphological evidence.
Fortunately, this has been increasingly remedied over the last decade as a growing community of taxonomists in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru combine molecular and morphological data to identify and classify new species.
However, carrying out fieldwork in these remote regions remains a formidable challenge. Reyes-Puig highlights the physical demands of conducting herpetological research in the upper montane forests of the eastern Ecuadorian Andes:
“First, it is quite challenging to reach the location after nearly two days of hiking. Then, the cold and almost constant humidity are physical limitations after fatigue, but observing a habitat untouched by humans and species never seen before, such as Pristimantis fergusoni, are a real reward.”
That reward is visually striking. While many frogs in the Pristimantis genus rely on camouflage to blend into the forest floor, P. fergusoni carries a distinct flash of color. The species exhibits notable sexual dimorphism: males are more muted, whereas females possess a bright scarlet belly.
Pristimantis fergusoni. (Photo credit: Juan Pablo Reyes Puig).
The exact reason for this vivid coloring remains a mystery, though Reyes-Puig notes a few plausible theories:
“Knowledge about the behavior and natural history of the new species is very limited, but we believe that the bright colors could serve for communication during courtship or as part of their reproductive strategies.”
Notably, this new species is named after Robert T. Ferguson II, an amateur naturalist who dedicated his life to protecting reptiles and amphibians. As a citizen scientist, Ferguson mapped wildlife in the US and helped fund the protection of rainforests in Latin America. Through his photography and work with groups like Rainforest Trust, he inspired others to care for the wild.
Pristimantis fergusoni. (Video credit: Juan Pablo Reyes Puig).
A Biodiversity Hotspot Under Pressure
The discovery of P. fergusoni is likely just the beginning, with the upper Pastaza basin serving as a taxonomic frontier where many more species await identification. Reyes-Puig estimates that at least eight more new species of amphibians are currently waiting to be described in this region alone.
For now, Pristimantis fergusoni is listed as “Data Deficient” by the IUCN because it has only been found in two locations close to one another – the Cerro Candelaria and Chamana Reserves – leaving scientists without the population data needed to determine its level of risk. However, the team is already working to ensure the frog’s future isn’t left to chance.
“Taxonomic work is usually limited to describing new species,” says Reyes-Puig. “We have gone a step further by ensuring the protection of the new species’ habitat through the declaration of protected areas.”
While this work happens on the ground in the Llanganates-Sangay Ecological Corridor, Reyes-Puig stresses that protecting these species requires global awareness. Climate change and habitat loss are universal threats to amphibians, and local conservation efforts rely on broader environmental responsibility:
“Small actions such as recycling, waste management, and sustainable activities are important. We know that climate change is a problem that affects amphibians worldwide, but small actions [from the public] are also crucial.”
Pristimantis fergusoni. (Photo credit: Juan Pablo Reyes Puig).
The presence of P. fergusoni is a testament to the region’s immense biodiversity, and a reminder that in the underexplored Andes, discovery and conservation must move at the same urgent pace.
Reyes-Puig JP, Yánez-Muñoz MH, Ron SR, Venegas PJ, Ortega J, Carrión-Olmedo JC, Reyes-Puig C (2026) A new spiny frog of the genus Pristimantis (Anura, Strabomantidae) from the eastern slopes of the Ecuadorian Andes. ZooKeys 1269: 83-105. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1269.162260
For more articles on zoology, visit the ZooKeys website and follow the journal on BlueSky and Facebook.
In 2016, I was in the midst of a major professional transition. After years in a tenured university position, I had moved into independent-school teaching and was directing my first extended international field course for the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey. My goal was simple: give students firsthand experience in how biodiversity research actually happens—how field observations become scientific knowledge.
That March, I led 13 students into Ecuador’s Pastaza Valley on the eastern slopes of the Andes. We established two remote camps along a steep trail beginning near the Pastaza River and hiked toward Páramo, the high-elevation grasslands above treeline. The programme focused on documenting plant diversity: observing carefully, photographing plants, recording habitat data, and learning why details matter.
High camp during the 2016 Lawrenceville School Ecuador field course. (Photo credit: John L. Clark).
We expected a rewarding day of exploration in a spectacular landscape. What we did not expect was to encounter three plant species unknown to science, all in a single day along the same trail.
Those discoveries became the basis of a newly accepted PhytoKeys paper describing three new species of Glossoloma (Gesneriaceae) from the Cerro Candelaria Reserve. But this story is about more than taxonomy. It also illustrates how conservation works in practice, through visionary leadership, local stewardship, and sustained support.
Meet Glossoloma: upside-down flowers and unexpected climbers
Glossoloma is a genus of Neotropical plants recognised for resupinate flowers, meaning the blossoms appear upside-down relative to the typical orientation. Most species are stout, unbranched terrestrial subshrubs with colorful flowers that stand out in Andean forests.
The three species we discovered are unusual because they are nomadic climbers. Instead of remaining self-supporting, they germinate in the soil and climb nearby vegetation, sometimes persisting higher on trunks and branches.
Three new species of Glossoloma (Gesneriaceae) from Cerro Candelaria: A–B, Glossoloma recalde; C–D, Glossoloma puroanum; E–F, Glossoloma jostii. (Photo credit: John L. Clark).
The setting: Ecuador’s rich, complex and vulnerable Pastaza Valley
The upper Río Pastaza Valley is one of the Andes’ most remarkable biodiversity regions. Moist air from the Amazon Basin rises through this deep valley and meets successive mountain ridges, creating steep gradients in rainfall, temperature, and habitat over short distances. These transitions foster exceptional diversity and endemism.
Yet the region has experienced significant forest loss since the 1970s due to agricultural expansion and land-use change. Much original forest now survives only in fragments, making protected reserves essential. The forest where these species were found persists because of a unique alignment of conservation efforts—a true “conservation trifecta.”
Why these names? Conservation stories written into taxonomy
Scientific names can honor the people and partnerships that make discovery and conservation possible. Each of the three new species recognises a different kind of contribution.
Glossoloma jostii honors Lou Jost, botanist, conservationist, and co-founder of Fundación EcoMinga. His work has helped establish reserves and bring international attention to the Pastaza Valley as a biodiversity hotspot, demonstrating how scientific insight and persistence can translate into lasting protection.
Glossoloma puroanum honors Puro Coffee, founded by Andy Orchard, whose support through the World Land Trust helped establish and sustain the Cerro Candelaria Reserve. Conservation depends not only on research but also on reliable financial support for land protection, management, and the people safeguarding these forests.
Glossoloma recaldeorum honors the Recalde family of El Placer, long-time park guards and local stewards. Their daily presence, including monitoring trails, observing wildlife, and protecting the reserve, illustrates how conservation ultimately relies on committed local guardianship.
Brothers Luis and Jesus Recalde walking in the forest. (Video credit: John L. Clark).
Discovering three species in one day
Rather than promising immediate discovery, field courses aim to teach observation and critical thinking. Yet along the Cerro Candelaria trail, each unfamiliar plant raised the same question: could this really be undescribed? As evidence accumulated, curiosity turned into excitement.
For students, the realisation was powerful, as biodiversity shifted from a classroom abstraction to a live and evolving data set. Meanwhile, for me, after nearly a decade studying Glossoloma, finding three new species on a single trail was both thrilling and humbling. It emphasises how much remains unknown, even in relatively well-studied groups, and how urgent documentation can be in threatened landscapes.
Montane forest and type localities at Cerro Candelaria Reserve. (Photo credit: John L. Clark).
Why taxonomy matters
Taxonomy is sometimes misunderstood as simply naming organisms. In reality, it provides the framework that allows biology and conservation to function. Before a species can be protected, we must first know it exists and understand where it occurs.
By linking these plants to the people who helped protect their habitat, I hope this work does more than add three names to a checklist. It shows that taxonomy makes biodiversity visible, measurable, and ultimately protectable, while recognising the collaborative efforts that allowed these species, and their forest, to persist long enough to be discovered.
Conservation is a shared effort
The Cerro Candelaria Reserve exists because leadership, funding, and local stewardship converged. These three new Glossoloma species are living evidence of what such collaboration can safeguard.
If there is one lesson from this discovery, it is that conservation works best when it is shared across scientists, communities, donors, and organisations, and sustained over time.
Clark JL (2026) Commemorating a conservation trifecta: Three new species of Glossoloma (Gesneriaceae) honoring a donor, a family of forest stewards, and a conservation visionary. PhytoKeys 271: 173-185. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.271.181141
