Tag: conservation

Remarkable Bat Discoveries from the ZooKeys Archives

These discoveries, ranging from a species rediscovered after a century to new regional records, emphasise the impressive diversity of bats.

Bats are nocturnal mammals that are critical to healthy ecosystems around the globe; they act as pollinators, seed dispersers, and natural pest controllers. In honour of Bat Appreciation Day (17 April), we are highlighting some of the most interesting bats published in our open-access journal ZooKeys.

The following discoveries, ranging from a species rediscovered after a century to new regional records, emphasise the remarkable diversity of bats and the ongoing efforts of researchers to understand and protect them.

The Strange Big-eared Brown Bat (Histiotus alienus)

Adult male of Histiotus alienus, captured on the municipality of Palmas, Paraná state, Brazil. (Image credit: Cláudio et al.).

For over a hundred years, the strange big-eared brown bat was known only from a single specimen collected in Uruguay in 1916. This elusive species remained unseen by the scientific community for a century, leading to significant uncertainty regarding its biology and true distribution.

However, a study led by Brazilian researchers documents the rediscovery of this bat in the Palmas Grasslands of southern Brazil, providing the first confirmed record for the country. This finding significantly expands the known range of the species and offers researchers the first opportunity to provide a detailed redescription.

Histiotus alienus is distinguished by its large and oval ears that are connected by a low skin fold. Its fur is a deep, dark brown on the back, while the underside is slightly paler. The rediscovery occurred in a unique landscape characterised by high-altitude grasslands and Araucaria forests, a habitat that is increasingly threatened by human activity.

Learn more: Cláudio VC, Almeida B, Novaes RLM, Navarro MA, Tiepolo LM, Moratelli R (2023) Rediscovery of Histiotus alienus Thomas, 1916 a century after its description (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae): distribution extension and redescription. ZooKeys 1174: 273-287. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1174.108553

The Flat-skulled Woolly Bat (Kerivoula depressa)

Kerivoula depressa. (Image credit: Liang et al.).

The world of bat taxonomy is constantly shifting as researchers use new tools to differentiate species that look nearly identical. Another study formally documents the first records of the flat-skulled woolly bat, Kerivoula depressa, in China.

Previously, many woolly bats in the region were grouped together under other names, but detailed morphological and genetic analysis confirmed that K. depressa is a distinct part of the Chinese fauna, specifically in Guangdong and Yunnan provinces.

The defining feature of this species is its notably flattened braincase. This physical trait is an evolutionary adaptation that allows the bat to roost in very narrow spaces, such as the hollow internodes of bamboo. The bat has woolly fur that ranges from buff brown to dark brown, and it is relatively small in size.

The presence of this specialist bat in China highlights the complexity of tropical forest ecosystems and the need for further taxonomic work to correctly identify and conserve local biodiversity.

Learn more: Liang X, Xie H, Li Y, Huang Z, Li S, Wu Y, Yu W (2023) First record of the flat-skulled woolly bat Kerivoula depressa and the Indochinese woolly bat K. dongduongana (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) in China. ZooKeys 1149: 1-15. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1149.85821

The Lesser False Vampire Bat (Megaderma spasma)

Megaderma spasma. (Image credit: Cook-Price et al.).

Islands often host a high number of unique species, yet their mammalian populations are frequently understudied. A comprehensive survey on Ko Pha-ngan, an island off the coast of Thailand, identifies the lesser false vampire bat, Megaderma spasma, as a new record for the island.

This species is a member of a group known for their distinctive appearance and predatory habits. While its name might sound ominous, it does not feed on blood; instead, it preys on insects and occasionally small vertebrates.

The lesser false vampire bat is easily recognised by its exceptionally large ears that are joined at the base and the absence of a visible external tail. During the survey, researchers found this species in a variety of environments, including national park forests, disturbed forest fragments, and areas with human settlements.

The discovery of M. spasma and eighteen other new records on Ko Pha-ngan demonstrates the importance of conducting biodiversity surveys in tourist-heavy regions to inform better conservation policies.

Learn more: Cook-Price DR, Petko ON, Makchai S, Artchawakom T, Suwanwaree P (2025) Mammal diversity survey of Ko Pha-ngan in Surat Thani Province, Thailand. ZooKeys 1229: 77-102. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1229.118127

The Grey-bellied Dwarf Dog-faced Bat (Molossops griseiventer)

Details specimen of Molossops temminckii. (Image credit: Ramírez-Chaves et al.).

Some species remain hidden until scientists take a closer look at existing museum collections and genetic data. For years, the grey-bellied dwarf dog-faced bat was considered a synonym of the more common Molossops temminckii. However, a recent revision has revalidated Molossops griseiventer as a separate species.

This grey-bellied dwarf dog-faced bat can be identified by its characteristic greyish ventral fur and specific cranial proportions. Beyond its appearance, the revalidation of this species has major implications for its protection. Unlike its more widespread relatives, M. griseiventer is restricted to the inter-Andean valleys of Colombia, a region heavily impacted by agricultural development.

Because it is now recognised as an endangered species, conservationists can advocate for specific protections for its remaining habitat. This case proves that understanding the true diversity of bats is a prerequisite for effective conservation.

Learn more: Ramírez-Chaves HE, Morales-Martínez DM, Martínez-Medina D, Ossa-López PA, Rivera-Páez FA (2023) Revising the diversity within the Dwarf Dog-faced Bat, Molossops temminckii (Chiroptera, Molossidae), with the revalidation of the endangered Molossops griseiventer. ZooKeys 1180: 237-256. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1180.109091

The stories of these four species remind us that our understanding of biodiversity is always evolving. Through continued exploration and open-access publishing, we can better appreciate and protect the bats that share our planet.

Once again, Happy Bat Appreciation Day from ZooKeys and Pensoft Publishers!

For more articles on zoology, visit the ZooKeys website and follow the journal on BlueSky and Facebook.

Meet the Crevice Weaver: A Newly Discovered Urban Spider from Colombia

The Pikelinia floydmuraria, a new addition to the South American Pikelinia population, was observed in Colombia’s department of Tolima and is now described in the journal Zoosystematics and Evolution.

A team of researchers from institutions across South America have expanded scholarly knowledge of the Pikelinia spider genus, with their recent discovery of a new crevice weaver species: Pikelinia floydmuraria.

The new species name is a creative tribute to the legendary rock band Pink Floyd, while simultaneously referencing the spider’s specific habitat. “Muraria,” derived from the Latin word for “wall”, reflects the species’ tendency to reside in the walls of buildings, though indeed also alludes to the iconic Pink Floyd album, The Wall.

  • A photo of the wall were these spiders live in Armenia, Quindío. Photo credit to Leonardo Delgado-Santa.
  • Pikelinia floydmuraria, male paratype. Credit to Leonardo Delgado-Santa.

These findings are described in greater detail in the open-access journal Zoosystematics and Evolution (ZSE) and serve as a particularly important contribution to the wider study of synanthropic spiders – species that have adapted to human-created environments. Despite the ecological importance of these spiders in Colombia, research into their biology and nutritional ecology has received little attention. The discovery of the Pikelinia floydmuraria, alongside observations of additional populations in neighbouring Colombian departments, holds the potential to remedy this problem.

The species establishment

The first regional review of the genus Pikelinia was established in 1946 by the Brazilian zoologist Mello-Leitão. For decades, the genus remained obscure, with species often misidentified or “lumped” into the type genus Filistata, most commonly found in the Mediterranean region.

In 2022, however, a major study redefined Pikelinia as part of a distinct South American spider group. Pikelinia floydmuraria is the most recent addition to the genus and provides considerable insight into the dietary composition of these crevice weavers.

Skilled hunters

  • Pikelinia floydmuraria from Tolima, Female Juvenile, attacking a cockroach on the web. Credit: Julio C. González-Gómez.
  • Pikelinia floydmuraria from Tolima, Female Juvenile, attacking a cockroach on the web. Credit: Julio C. González-Gómez.

These spiders are skilled hunters, primarily feeding on insects including flies, beetles and ants. Remarkably, they are capable of taking down prey up to six times their own size and often build their webs near streetlights to catch insects attracted to the glow. The above figure provides a visual representation of the spider’s predatory behaviour in urban habitats, demonstrating its ability to prey on insects larger than itself.By keeping these insect populations under control, crevice weavers thus maintain a healthier balance in the Colombian urban environment.

The research team behind this discovery, led by Osvaldo Villarreal and Leonardo Delgado-Santa, note that Pikelinia floydmuraria only measure about 3 to 4 millimetres in length. One of their most unique internal features is found in the females, which contain reproductive organs comprising long and slender tubes that are shaped like the letter “S”. In urban environments, they can be found tucked in the cracks and crevices of building walls, with observed concentrations reaching between 20 and 30 spiders in a single square metre.

Pikelinia fasciata, female from Galapagos A. Habitus (dorsal view).  Credit: Andrea C. Roman.

The researchers further observed that Pikelinia floydmuraria is a very close relative of another species called Pikelinia fasciata, which lives in the Galapagos Islands. Despite being separated by the Pacific Ocean and Andes mountain range, the two look almost exactly alike, leaving scientists to wonder: how did such similar spiders end up so far apart? It remains a mystery as to whether these traits reflect shared ancestry or similar ecological adaptations.

Nonetheless, the two can be differentiated by the appearance of their legs, with the Colombian spider displaying solid-colours, and the Galapagos featuring darker rings by contrast. The Galapagos female spiders additionally have shorter and straighter reproductive organs in comparison to the Colombian female.

Further research needed

@pensoft.publishers

🎸🕸️ Meet the latest rock star of the #spider world: Pikelinia floydmuraria. 🕷️Recently discovered in Colombia, this species was officially named after @Pink Floyd as a tribute to both their iconic album “The Wall” and the spider’s favourite hangout: urban city walls. ➡️ Follow the link to read more about this discovery: https://zse.pensoft.net/article/175423/ ➡️Or see the blog post here: https://blog.pensoft.net/2026/04/14/meet-the-crevice-weaver-a-newly-discovered-urban-spider-from-colombia/ #arachnid #spiders #newspecies #science

♬ original sound – Pensoft Publishers

In order to better determine whether Pikelinia floydmuraria is a unique species native to Colombia, the South American researchers suggest the implementation of DNA barcoding in future studies. This will provide genetic evidence that could help map the evolutionary history of Pikelinia floydmuraria. A DNA-based dietary analysis, meanwhile, would quantify the extent to which these spiders operate as natural urban pest regulators.

Whether they are just “another web in the wall” or a relative from the Galapagos, the discovery of Pikelinia floydmuraria represents a significant advancement in our understanding of South American spider taxonomy. By identifying this new Colombian species and providing the first-ever detailed anatomical description for its relative, Pikelinia fasciata, researchers have expanded scientific knowledge of the Pikelinia genus.

Pikelinia floydmuraria may be small and “comfortably numb” to the bustle of the city, but their impact on maintaining a healthy urban ecosystem is anything but quiet.

Original source

Villarreal O, Delgado-Santa L, González-Gómez JC, Rodríguez-Castro GA, Román AC, Agudelo E, García LF (2026) Another web in the wall: A new Pikelinia Mello-Leitão, 1946 (Araneae, Filistatidae) from Colombia, with notes on its diet and description of the female genitalia of P. fasciata (Banks, 1902). Zoosystematics and Evolution 102(1): 357-366. https://doi.org/10.3897/zse.102.175423

Is It a Snake or a Lizard? Understanding the Formosan Legless Lizard

These lizards are among the most secretive and least studied groups in Taiwan.

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.

Dopasia formosensis 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 Dopasia formosensis; 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 Dopasia formosensis (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 Dopasia formosensis 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.

The Sith Lord of the Sea: Supergiant Isopod in the WoRMS’ Top 10 Marine Species of 2025

The supergiant deep-sea isopod of the genus Bathynomus makes it to WoRMS Top 10 Marine Species of 2025.

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.

To celebrate the scientists who classify, define, and name all things living, the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) has issued its Top 10 Marine Species of 2025, honouring the discoveries in marine biology throughout the past year.

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:

Original study:

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 New Spiny Frog Discovered in the Ecuadorian Andes

This visually striking species emphasises the need for habitat protection in the Ecuadorian cloud forests.

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.

Original source:

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.

Commemorating a conservation trifecta: Three new species of Glossoloma honoring a donor, a family of forest stewards, and a conservation visionary

Three new Andean plant species, discovered in a single day, stand as living proof that collaborative conservation and local stewardship work.

Guest blog post by John L. Clark

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.

Original source:

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

First national assessment identifies 271 established non-native species in Türkiye, with climate change to accelerate invasiveness risks

271 established non-native species in Turkey with an increased risk of invasiveness under future climate warming scenarios.

A team of researchers, led by Dr. Ali Serhan Tarkan, has published the first nationwide assessment of established non-native species in Türkiye in the journal NeoBiota.

The study identifies 271 species that may pose significant threats to the country’s biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and socio-economic systems, providing a crucial baseline for future conservation and biosecurity efforts.

Using a recent global database of non-native established species, the researchers initially identified 1,092 non-native species within Turkish borders. Through a rigorous review by taxonomic experts, the team filtered out native, cryptogenic, and non-established species, narrowing the focus to 271 confirmed established species.

Invasive freshwater fish (Carassius gibelio). Photo credit to: Esra Baycelebi.

Of these, marine species are by far the most prevalent, with 198 classified as strictly marine, followed by 42 terrestrial and 27 freshwater species. This trend reflects Türkiye’s extensive coastlines along the Black, Aegean, and Mediterranean seas, which offer vast ecological niches.

Furthermore, the coastal regions, characterized by dense populations, robust economies, and intensive trade networks, create multiple human-mediated pathways that can facilitate the introduction and establishment of non-native species.

Number of established species in each administrative area of Türkiye based on GBIF records. Gray areas represent administrative areas without non-native species based on GBIF. The marine area represents the Exclusive Economic Zone (extracted from Marine Regions marineregions.org, Flanders Marine Institute 2023). Credit to Tarkan et al., 2026.

The assessment also revealed a clear west-to-east gradient, with non-native species concentrated in the western part of the country and decreasing toward the east. The highest concentrations were found in Kayseri and Muğla, each hosting 37 established species, followed closely by Antalya with 34.

In terms of biogeographic distribution, nearly half of the established species originated from the Indo-Malayan realm, followed by the Australasian realm.

A significant concern raised by the researchers is the substantial impact gap in national reporting. Specifically, the majority of established non-native species in Türkiye had no reported impacts (n = 224; 83%), although this number decreased to 157 (59%) at the global scale.

Doughnut plot indicating the species by (a) impacts and (b) impact mechanisms. Credit to Tarkan et al., 2026.

While only 17% of established species currently have documented impacts within Türkiye, 41% of these same species are known to cause impact elsewhere.

These findings suggest that many species in Türkiye have not yet undergone formal impact assessments. Among those with known effects, ecological and environmental damages were the most frequently cited, primarily driven by biological mechanisms such as competition, predation, and rapid growth.

The outlook for species already established in Türkiye is particularly concerning. Currently, 50% of the 62 species screened using the Aquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit pose a high to very high risk of invasiveness. These proportions are projected to exceed 60% under future climate warming scenarios.

Coordinated national efforts will be essential to mitigate the long-term impacts on Türkiye’s biodiversity and ecosystems.

the researchers conclude

The study therefore underscores the urgent need for systematic monitoring, improved impact assessments, and climate-informed risk management strategies.

Original source:

Tarkan AS, Yapıcı S, Kurtul I, Błońska D, Vilizzi L, Baş Sermenli H, Farooq S, Aldemir C, Uçma Uysal T, Giannetto D, Bilge G, Çiftçioğlu M, Najafi-Majd E, Aktay-Sözüer L, Kaya C, Bayçelebi E, Aydın İ, Haubrock PJ, Briski E, Soto I (2026) The first national assessment of established non-native species in Türkiye. NeoBiota 105: 297-317. https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.105.176362

A pact across continents or how ethical volunteering and 40 years of otter science are rewriting conservation

Bridging 40 years of otter science and global eco-volunteering, Projeto Lontra and Estuarine Management and Technologies invite research for a topical collection.

Guest blog post by Dr. Oldemar de Oliveira Carvalho Junior

After 40 years of protecting the Neotropical otter, Projeto Lontra is opening a new chapter. We are calling on researchers to contribute to the “Otters as Bioindicators of Estuarine Health” Topical Collection in the journal Estuarine Management and Technologies, bridging the gap between long-term field observations to innovations in the field.

This call is a natural evolution of a story that began in January 1986. On the wild shores of Peri Lagoon in southern Brazil, my father and I stood beneath the canopy of the Atlantic Forest and dreamed aloud: What if we could protect this place by protecting its most elusive guardian, the Neotropical otter?

  • Neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis). Photo credit to Projeto Lontra and Instituto Ekko Brasil
  • Swimming neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis). Photo credit to Projeto Lontra and Instituto Ekko Brasil

That dream became Projeto Lontra. For forty years, we have walked these shores not as distant scientists, but as neighbors, listening to the water, reading the spraints, and learning from fishers who’ve known these lagoons longer than any journal has existed.

But conservation cannot be a solitary act. And so, in the early 2000s, a quiet revolution began. People of all ages from France, Germany, and beyond started arriving, not as tourists, but as eco-volunteers through different international organizations, such as Cybelle Planète. They came not to “save” us, but to stand with us.

Eco-volunteers installing a trap camera inside an otter cave. Credit to Projeto Lontra and Instituto Ekko Brasil

This is the heart of our partnership: reciprocity, not rescue.

More Than Volunteering. A Model of Shared Stewardship

Cybelle Planète does not sell travel; rather, it cultivates responsibility. Their volunteers spend weeks living alongside our team, collecting spraints at dawn, mapping latrines, teaching in local schools, and planting native trees. They return home not just with photos, but with data that feeds into global assessments, and with a transformed understanding of what it means to care for a shared planet.

As one Cybelle Planète coordinator once told me:

We don’t promote travel. We promote responsibility.

This ethos mirrors our own. In Brazil, conservation has too often been framed as a deficit, something we lack, something others must fix. But Projeto Lontra has always believed that local knowledge is expertise and long-term presence is data. Our 40-year dataset, born from patience, not satellites, is proof.

  • Eco-volunteers from Australia and New Zealand. Credit to Projeto Lontra and Instituto Ekko Brasil
  • Playing with the otters. Credit to Projeto Lontra and Instituto Ekko Brasil
  • eco-volunteer near a lagoon
    Eco-volunteer at an expedition. Credit to Projeto Lontra and Instituto Ekko Brasil

Now, this partnership takes on new scientific weight as a cornerstone of the Scientific Journal Estuarine Management and Technologies and its Topical Collection “Otters as Bioindicators of Estuarine Health.” But rather than spotlight methods or metrics, we want to spotlight people and the relationships that make science meaningful.

Voices of the Collaboration

To truly reflect the spirit of this alliance, we invited key voices to share their vision:

Nosso papel não é promover viagens, mas cultivar a responsabilidade – de longo prazo, recíproca e fundamentada na confiança entre os atores locais da conservação e os cidadãos internacionais.

(Our role is not to promote travel, but to foster responsibility – long-term, reciprocal, and grounded in trust between local conservation actors and international citizens.)

Celine – Cybelle Planète Leadership – Vision Statement Placeholder

We are reminded that research and materials produced outside traditional commercial or academic sectors can be just as important.

For over 30 years, the Bulletin has amplified voices from the Global South that commercial journals overlook. Projeto Lontra’s legacy reminds us that grey literature is often golden and that true bioindicator science grows from the ground up.

Dr. Arno Gutleb, IUCN Otter Specialist Group Bulletin

A Call to Join the Movement

Neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis). Photo credit to: Projeto Lontra and Instituto Ekko Brasil

This isn’t just a story about otters. It’s about a new way of doing conservation:

  • Municipalities can use tools like the Otter Health Index (OHI) to monitor their estuaries without million-dollar labs.
  • Researchers can contribute to a truly global bioindicator framework that centers tropical species.
  • Eco-volunteers can join hands-on programs that generate real data while fostering cross-cultural understanding.

And everyone – scientist, student, and citizen – can engage with the “Otters as Bioindicators” Topical Collection to help shift the narrative from extraction to exchange, from hierarchy to humility.

Because in the end, the otter teaches us this: ecosystems are woven from connection. So too must be our efforts to protect them.

Explore the Topical Collection: Otters as Bioindicators – EMT
Learn about volunteering with Cybelle Planète: www.cybelle-planete.org
Read the foundational synthesis paper: Otters as Bioindicators of Estuarine Health

Two new bird species from the Amazon Basin described based on bioacoustics and morphological data

Two new antbird species discovered in the Amazon Basin and described in the open-access journal Vertebrate Zoology.

Scientists have discovered that a widely recognized Amazonian antbird is not one, but five distinct species – including two completely new to science. This revelation of hidden biodiversity was achieved by integrating artificial intelligence, vocal analysis, and traditional museum work, demonstrating how cutting-edge technology can transform our understanding of life in Earth’s richest ecosystems.

The study was conducted by Vagner Cavarzere and his master’s student Enrico L. Breviglieri from São Paulo State University (UNESP), Brazil, together with curator Luis F. Silveira of the University of São Paulo Museum of Zoology, and was published in the open-access journal Vertebrate Zoology.

The research focused on the Cercomacra cinerascens antbird species complex, a group of small, insect-eating birds widespread across the Amazon Basin. While these birds appear nearly identical in plumage, they produce strikingly different songs.

Birds rely heavily on vocal communication, which are important for species recognition. Their songs act as acoustic signatures, providing a powerful key to unlocking hidden diversity.

the researchers explain

The team named one of the new species (Cercomacra mura) in honor of the Mura people, Indigenous inhabitants of the western Amazon where this bird occurs.

One of the new antbird species, Cercomacra mura perched on a branch.
One of the new antbird species, Cercomacra mura, perched on a branch. Credit to Tomaz Melo.

The second new species takes its name from its most diagnostic trait: a song composed solely of two‑note, raspy phrases. From the Latin raucus (hoarse, raspy) and sonus (sound), the scientific name Cercomacra raucisona directly reflects its unique vocal signature.

One of the new antbird species, Cercomacra raucisona perched on a tree branch
One of the new antbird species, Cercomacra raucisona. Photo credit to: Fernando Zurdo

To decode these signatures, the team employed BirdNET, an artificial intelligence tool developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. This machine-learning algorithm converts sound into numerical data, allowing for the automated comparison of bird recordings collected across the Amazon. The vocal patterns it revealed were then cross-referenced with meticulous analyses of vocalizations, plumage patterns and morphology.

This multidisciplinary approach confirmed that populations separated by major Amazonian rivers, such as the Amazonas, Ucayali, Madeira, and Tapajós, have evolved into distinct species. “These rivers function as long-term natural barriers”, says lead author Cavarzere.

Populations diverged independently over millennia into the unique species we describe today, which are kept isolated by these major rivers.

the researchers explain

The discovery underscores the vast amount of cryptic biodiversity still awaiting discovery in the Amazon, even among seemingly well-known birds. It also highlights a new paradigm for taxonomy, where AI-powered tools work in concert with traditional bioacoustics and specimen-based research.

By merging artificial intelligence with the foundational science of bioacoustics and museum collections, we can uncover diversity that would otherwise remain invisible. Recognizing these species is the first and most critical step toward ensuring their protection in a rapidly changing world.

the researchers conclude

Original study:

Cavarzere V, Breviglieri EL, Silveira LF (2026) Integrative taxonomy of the Cercomacra cinerascens species complex with description of two new species (Aves: Thamnophilidae). Vertebrate Zoology 76: 73-91. https://doi.org/10.3897/vz.76.e171834

New Special Issue in Nature Conservation offers an interdisciplinary resource for wetland ecosystem restoration

New Special Issue in Nature Conservation offers an interdisciplinary resource from over 100 European experts for the better restoration of wetlands, coasts and floodplains

Wetlands are key environmental sentinels. These systems offer a plethora of ecosystem services, acting as biodiversity hotspots and carbon sinks while providing natural buffers against the impacts of climate change.

They also benefit our society by ensuring food security, providing clean water, and protecting coastal communities. In fact, they support more than one billion livelihoods worldwide, as well as 40% of all known plant and animal species.

However, in our rapidly changing world, we face a series of complex, overlapping challenges. To address the ongoing loss of wetlands, new, interdisciplinary solutions are needed that match the scale of the problem.

A Special interdisciplinary resource

In response to these challenges, a new special issue in Nature Conservation titled ‘Wetlands in a Changing Climate: Restoring Coasts and Floodplains,’ aims to bridge critical knowledge gaps, highlight the vital importance of wetland ecosystems, and identify ways to upscale restoration action under the EU Nature Restoration Regulation.

Wetlands in a Changing Climate: Restoring Coasts and Floodplains special issue in the open-access journal Nature Conservation published by pensoft

Edited by Ute Susanne Kaden, Sophia Schmid, Simone Wulf, Katrina Marsden, Carla Klusmann, Aletta Bonn, Klement Tockner and Mathias Scholz, the Special Issue includes 15 peer-reviewed articles with contributions from over 100 European experts across 18 countries. You can read the full editorial here.

Adopting a ‘source-to-sea’ approach, the collection bridges the gap between riverine and coastal research to foster integrated responses to environmental pressures. Its findings are organized into four key thematic sections:

  • Section I: Wetland biodiversity in a changing climate: Understanding their vulnerability
  • Section II: Wetland ecosystem services and nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation
  • Section III: Wetland restoration in practice: Opportunities, overcoming barriers and scaling up implementation
  • Section IV: Wetland policy: Enabling a transition towards a resilient future

By synthesizing perspectives from science, policy, and practice across Europe, this collection serves as a transdisciplinary “guide for anyone seeking an integrated understanding of the unique role of European riverine and coastal wetlands in the context of climate change and biodiversity,”. 

While the primary scope is from Europe, these findings offer vital insights applicable to restoration efforts worldwide.

For me, riverine and coastal wetlands are vivid examples of how biodiversity, climate, and human well-being depend on one another, yet they often remain out of the spotlight – making their protection and restoration all the more important. This Special Issue brings together accessible science, practical experience, and policy perspectives, and we hope it will help spark real – and urgently needed – progress in restoring Europe’s coasts and floodplains.

comments Dr. Ute Kaden, one of the lead authors of this Special Issue.

This Special Issue builds on the 5th European Conference on Biodiversity and Climate Change (Bonn, 2023), a collaborative effort organized by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN), the European Network of Heads of Nature Conservation Agencies (ENCA), the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), and adel-phi.

Connecting the research and people

Beyond the Special Issue itself, the lead editors organised a free online launch event to present the valuable collection of research publications. On Thursday, 26 February, over 300 participants gained insights into the vulnerability and resilience of riverine and coastal wetlands.

The discussion centered on evaluating the multifunctional benefits of nature-based solutions, sharing restoration lessons from across Europe, and identifying key opportunities аnd challenges in scaling up wetland restoration actions.

Addressing biodiversity climate nexus is important – biodiversity loss and climate change are interconnected and we must strengthen their relationship to develop effective responses to both challenges.

Dr. Kim Grutzmacher, Head of Division International Nature Conservation, BfN

During the launch event, Dr. Flore Lafaye de Micheaux, European Senior Advisor at the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, reflected on how the importance of wetlands extends beyond their ecosystem value.

Wetlands have been part of human existence since the dawn of time, not only because they have provided for our basic needs, but also because they are places of meaning, culture and spirituality. Our message is that it’s time to invest in wetlands as this means investing in future.

Dr. Flore Lafaye de Micheaux, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

Research from four major projects, BioAgora, Respin, SpongeBoost, and Rest-Coast, was showcased during the launch event. As an active consortium member in these projects, Pensoft contributes essential expertise in science communication, dissemination, stakeholder engagement, and technological development.

Notably, the lead authors Dr. Kaden (UFZ) and Dr. Scholz (who also serves as the coordinator of SpongeBoost) presented insights from Sections I and II of the new Special Issue. Comprising eight papers from the SpongeBoost consortium, the research tackles pressing ecological challenges, ranging from nutrient retention and floodplain services to the socio-economic valuation of nature-based solutions and the intricacies of EU policy.

Wetland restoration involves human-nature relationships, and wetlands should be treated treated as a social ecological system.

Dr. Mathias Scholz, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research

In this Special Issue, you will find in-depth analyses such as the work of Ibáñez et al., 2026, which asks ‘To what extent is coastal wetland biodiversity endangered by climate change? How can we boost the resilience of coastal ecosystems?’ Their research highlights the dual threat of “coastal squeeze” and climate change on Mediterranean wetlands. 

Shifting the focus to inland waters, the issue also features ‘Building blocks for upscaling freshwater ecosystem restoration: Place-based strategies for a transdisciplinary challenge’ by Birk et al. (2026). Drawing on 18 European case studies from the MERLIN project, this research identifies five essential ‘building blocks’ necessary to successfully upscale freshwater restoration efforts.”

Full list of the articles in the Special Issue:

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The development of the issue was supported by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) with funds from the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety(BMUKN) (Project No. 3521830200).