Tiny Sipadan cave crustacean belongs to new genus

SEMPORNA: A tiny crustacean found in a submerged cave off Sipadan island has led to the discovery of a new species and an entirely new genus.

Named Sipadanomolgus dissimilis, the copepod was collected using a light trap inside Turtle Tomb, a submerged marine cave at the world-renowned diving destination.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Associate Professor Dr Azman Abdul Rahim, who led the research, said the discovery went beyond identifying a new species.

"The researchers established an entirely new genus, Sipadanomolgus, because the animal possesses a distinctive combination of anatomical features that does not fit the existing genera in its family," he said when contacted.

The research was conducted under the Ocean Census programme, a global initiative to discover and document marine life, in collaboration with Dr Chaichat Boonyanusith of Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University and Dr Koraon Wongkamhaeng of Kasetsart University, both in Thailand.

The findings were published in the European Journal of Taxonomy on Oct 20.

The discovery adds to previous reports of newly described crustaceans in Turtle Tomb, underscoring the scientific value of exploring specialised marine habitats.

Azman said it also broadened understanding of Sipadan's biodiversity beyond its well-known coral reefs and larger marine animals, highlighting the role of less visible, cave-dwelling organisms in understanding marine life.