SEMPORNA: A research team from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia has made a significant discovery of a new species of copepods in the remarkable underwater cave system known as Turtle Tomb, located in Sabah state on Malaysia's Borneo Island.
Led by Associate Professor Dr Azman Abdul Rahim, the team conducted a multidisciplinary faunal survey between 2019 and 2024.
Located around 20 metres below the surface, this submerged environment offers a unique insight into marine ecosystem preservation.
The expedition explored a complex cave system, spanning approximately 700 metres, unveiling a remarkable underwater landscape.
The team uncovered marine sponge gardens akin to deep-sea habitats.
"Using light traps, researchers captured previously unknown marine organisms—copepods distinguished by their bright red colouration.
"These microscopic creatures, barely the size of a grain of sand, represent not only a new species but an entirely new genus," said Azman in a statement.
Copepods are tiny, aquatic crustaceans found in both marine and freshwater environments.
Turtle Tomb is located within Pulau Siaw (Siaw Island), which is part of the Turtle Islands Park in the Sulu Sea off the coast of Sabah. It is called Turtle Tomb because the cave contains the remains of ancient sea turtles.
In a recent publication in the peer-reviewed journal ZooKeys on Dec 6, the researchers formally described a new copepod species: Sipadantonius roihani.
The species was named in honour of a Malaysian diving record holder, Roihan Ang, who achieved a remarkable 164 metre deep dive in Sipadan Island waters in 2023.
"The expedition's findings significantly enhance our understanding of marine biodiversity, shedding light on the rich ecological complexity hidden within seemingly inhospitable underwater environments."