If you’re like a lot of divers, the Philippines is probably a nation you’d like to visit someday if you haven’t done so already. Now some newly discovered species have been added to the list of fascinating marine life that populates the island nation’s waters. While several live deep beneath the sea and won’t normally be encountered by sports divers, there are others that you might see if you’re fortunate.
A Living Treasure Trove
A strange starfish that feeds exclusively on waterlogged driftwood and swell sharks that are capable of inflating themselves with water to frighten off larger predators are just two species recently discovered in the Philippines. A team of scientists from the University of the Philippines, the National Museum of the Philippines, and the California Academy of Sciences conducted an extensive 42-day survey of Luzon, the nation’s largest island; they were in search of land-dwellers and ocean-dwelling creatures alike. During the course of the survey, they uncovered over 300 species that are believed to be completely new to science.
Dozens of insect and spider species were discovered, along with numerous deep sea corals armored with large, spiky plates that protect them from predatory fish. Approximately 50 new nudibranch species were discovered too – exciting news for divers, particularly for those of us who enjoy photographing these colorful marine invertebrates.
Also among the new discoveries are a crab with pincers that are lined with needle-sharp teeth, a wormlike pipefish that disguises itself by hiding among soft coral, tiny barnacles that measure only a few millimeters long, and a new type of sea urchin nicknamed a pea urchin because it’s about the same size as a pea. No peak was too high and no depth was too deep for this intrepid team of explorers; along the way, they found a primitive spike moss plant along the steep, perilous upper slopes of Luzon’s Mount Isarog, and an intriguing snake eel on the bottom of the sea.
All these new discoveries help to support the concept that the Philippines is one of the hottest spots for diverse, threatened life on our planet. Said researcher Terrence Gosliner, who is dean of science and research collections at the California Academy of Sciences, and who led the Philippine Biodiversity Expedition, “We found new species during nearly every dive and hike as we surveyed the country’s reefs, rainforests, and the ocean floor.”
The researchers have suggested that the waters surrounding the Philippine Archipelago may be home to more species than any other ocean environment on earth. The research team is sharing its results with international groups and Filipino agencies alike in order to help develop strategies for protecting the nation’s treasure trove of life. Plans include establishing and expanding marine protected areas, charting certain areas for reforestation, and working to reduce the amount of plastic waste the nation produces.
“We are hoping the findings will result in recommendations that will translate into policies that will produce a more sustainable future for Filipinos while simultaneously protecting the unique biodiversity,” Gosliner said.
“This expedition has led us to want to undertake more expeditions to the Philippines in other unexplored areas,” he added. Learn more about the California Academy of Sciences, Philippines expeditions, and other undertakings by visiting their home on the web or by visiting their discovery center in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.