Scientists from Borneo Marine Research Institute (BMRI) and Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) have discovered a new marine tardigrade species, Batillipes malaysianus, found along the shores of Labuan.
Lead researcher Associate Professor Dr Cheng-Ann Chen said the discovery stems from field surveys conducted on 29 November 2023 and 16 September 2024 (Malaysia Day).
He said the breakthrough represents Malaysia’s first update on marine tardigrades in more than 50 years and underscores the country’s status as a global biodiversity hotspot.
Batillipes malaysianus sp. nov., Malaysia’s newly named marine ‘water bear.‘ (BMRI/UMS)
“Although these animals were extremely scarce, the diagnostic characters we observed confirmed that this is new to science,” Dr Chen said.
The findings were published in the Journal of the Marine Biological Association (JMBA) in June this year.
Across two sampling trips, the team found very low densities of marine tardigrades. Among six individuals of the genus Batillipes, one was recognised as a species new to science and later formally described as Batillipes malaysianus (named in honour of the nation).
The study also reports the presence of Batillipes rotundiculus for the first time in Malaysia. The type material is deposited in the Borneo Marine Research Institute’s collection for permanent scientific reference.
The research was led by Dr Chen (BMRI, UMS) with postgraduate student Ng Wei-Ling (BMRI, UMS), in collaboration with a researcher from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) and Prof Dr Tadashi Kajita (University of the Ryukyus, Japan).
Dr Chen recommends expanded coastal surveys together with modern molecular approaches such as environmental DNA (eDNA) to reveal the true extent of Malaysia’s microscopic marine diversity.
Become a Member of the MBA
Student and Professional MBA Members get free access to the Journal of the Marine Biological Association (JMBA), the MBA’s international journal. Your membership also includes discounts on publishing in the journal. Find out how to become a Member or Donate to the MBA today to support our science.
