New species, including a pygmy grasshopper that hasn’t been recorded for over a century, were recently discovered on Mount Hamiguitan in Davao Oriental.
Other species discovered were a snout beetle, two flowering plants, a species of ground orchid and a grass fern, said Butch S. Pagcaliwagan of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Water and Natural Resources Research and Development. of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD).
“Arulenus validispinuscommonly known as the four-spined pygmy devil, has not been recorded for over a century,” explained Dr. Victor B. Amoroso, research team leader from Central Mindanao University (CMU).
Flowering plants are Hypericum perryongii Galindon sp. Nov and Gymnosiphon syceorosensis (Burmanniaceae).
A type of beetle, Metapocyrtus (Artapocyrtus) brons sp. Nov, was also recorded, Pagcaliwagan said.
The terrestrial orchid species is the Dilochia deleoniaeand the grass fern is called Actinostachys minuta Amoroso and Coritico, Pagcaliwagan added.
These results were part of the study “Biodiversity in Selected Mindanao Mountain Ecosystems for Conservation and Sustainable Development” of the Biodiversity Science and Technology Program funded and monitored by DOST-PCAARRD.
Mount Hamiguitan is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) World Heritage Site.
It has already been declared an ASEAN Heritage Park. The mountain range features terrestrial and aquatic habitats and includes endangered and endemic species of flora and fauna.
In addition to Mount Hamiguitan, Mount Apo in northern Cotabato, as well as Mount Pantaron and Mount Tago, both in Bukidnon, were included in the study also conducted by the University of the Philippines Los Baños-Museum of Natural History, Davao Oriental State University and the Philippine National Museum, Pagcaliwagan said.
The mountains offer much more than spectacular views. Much of its beauty is that it is home to diverse and abundant species of life, many of which are waiting to be discovered to this day, he noted. S&T media services
Picture credits: National Museum of the Philippines (NMP), NPM
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