A crustacean with unique black-and-white markings, reminiscent of a panda, has officially been recognised as a new species decades after its initial discovery in Japan.
Named Melita panda, this striking member of the Melitid amphipods – a group of shrimp-like crustaceans found worldwide – was first collected in the 1990s in the intertidal zone of Japan's Wakayama Prefecture.
Its full classification and description were published recently in ZooKeys, revealing the details of both its distinctive features and its evolution.
To confirm Melita panda as a new species, scientists examined its physical characteristics and DNA. Its panda-like colour pattern and distinct features – including the shape and position of its claws and setae – set it apart from closely related species such as Melita nagatai and Melita koreana. These three species share a common ancestor, the Melita hoshinoi, as shown in the evolutionary family tree, or phylogenetic tree, developed by the research team.
Prior to Melita panda, there were 63 documented species of Melita amphipods, with 16 of those found in Japanese waters. Researchers believe Japan's coastal habitats likely hold even more hidden amphipod diversity, especially as taxonomic research in these regions has been limited in the past.
The discovery of Melita panda underscores the vital role of taxonomy, the science of naming and categorising organisms, in conservation. “Despite the fact that biodiversity conservation is a global issue, species diversity and other aspects of biodiversity are still not fully understood," says Professor Ko Tomikawa of Hiroshima University in Japan.
"As a first step toward species conservation, we conducted a taxonomic study of amphipod Crustacea, which boasts high species diversity around Japan."
Tomikawa hopes that the panda-patterned Melita panda will inspire public interest in taxonomy and biodiversity.
The team plans to delve deeper into the life of Melita panda to uncover potential reasons for its distinctive colouration.
Find out more about the study Melita panda, a new species of Melitidae(Crustacea, Amphipoda) from Japan
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