Citizen scientists and researchers working together through TaxonExpeditions have discovered and documented a new beetle species, Clavicornalticamataikanensis, in a tropical rainforest in Borneo, demonstrating the important, yet largely unknown, biodiversity of tropical forests.
There are probably countless tiny beetles that have yet to be discovered in the rainforest. But that doesn’t stop citizen scientists from venturing into the Ulu Temblom forest in Borneo and adding them to the scientific record one by one. Together with a team of researchers, they published a new species, Clavicornalticamataikanensis, in the open-access, peer-reviewed Biodiversity Data Journal.
The tiny, two-millimeter-long leaf beetle that lives on the forest floor is the latest discovery from TaxonExpeditions, a company that organizes scientific field trips for teams of scientists and laypeople. Unlike other science/adventure tours, Taxon Expeditions organizes real scientific expeditions for non-experts, leading them to the discovery of new animal species by focusing on the thousands of "little things that rule the world."
The Mataikan beetle (Clavicornalticamataikanensis), named for the Mataikan stream ("fish eye") in the valley where it was found, is one of many small beetle species that live in tropical forest leaf litter, most of which have not yet been scientifically described and named. At just 2 millimeters long, this delicate-looking beetle is one of the largest of its kind, which may explain why so little is known about their ecology and diversity.
Local students and researchers also participated in the field trip, which gave untrained laypeople the opportunity to study this hidden world of biodiversity and participate in the process of naming and announcing new species. Lehman Ellis, a participant from the United States, said it was "exciting and wonderful" to be able to participate in this discovery event.
"We introduce all these tiny, beautiful, completely unknown animals to the public and tell them that there is a whole world yet to be discovered," said Dr. Eva Njungic, an entomologist and founder of Taxon Expeditions.
Compiled from:ScitechDaily