{"id":43021,"date":"2024-10-25T10:59:47","date_gmt":"2024-10-25T08:59:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/7406a0f0-453e-4cdb-a720-098e00e6272a"},"modified":"2024-10-25T12:27:29","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T10:27:29","slug":"curious-panda-like-creature-with-tiny-claws-found-lurking-in-japanese-waters","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/curious-panda-like-creature-with-tiny-claws-found-lurking-in-japanese-waters\/","title":{"rendered":"Curious ‘panda-like’ creature with tiny claws found lurking in Japanese waters"},"content":{"rendered":"

Scientists have named the new species Melita panda, a nod to its unique black-and-white colouring. <\/p>

By Daniel Graham\n <\/p>

Published: Friday, 25 October 2024 at 08:59 AM<\/p>

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A crustacean with unique black-and-white markings, reminiscent of a panda<\/a>, has officially been recognised as a new species decades after its initial discovery in Japan. <\/strong><\/p>

Named\u00a0Melita panda<\/em>, this striking member of the Melitid amphipods \u2013 a group of shrimp-like crustaceans found worldwide \u2013 was first collected in the 1990s in the intertidal zone of Japan’s Wakayama Prefecture. <\/p>

Its full classification and description were published recently in\u00a0ZooKeys<\/a><\/em>, revealing the details of both its distinctive features and its evolution.<\/p>

An anatomical sketch of Melita panda (male)\/Ko Tomikawa, Hiroshima University<\/figcaption><\/figure>

To confirm\u00a0Melita panda<\/em>\u00a0as a new species, scientists examined its physical characteristics and DNA. Its panda-like colour pattern and distinct features \u2013 including the shape and position of its claws and setae \u2013 set it apart from closely related species such as\u00a0Melita nagatai<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0Melita koreana<\/em>. These three species share a common ancestor, the\u00a0Melita hoshinoi<\/em>, as shown in the evolutionary family tree, or phylogenetic tree, developed by the research team.<\/p>

Prior to\u00a0Melita panda<\/em>, there were 63 documented species of\u00a0Melita<\/em>\u00a0amphipods, 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.<\/p>

\"Melita
The new species of amphipod has black-and-white banding, similar to that of a panda\/Ko Tomikawa, Hiroshima University<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The discovery of\u00a0Melita panda<\/em>\u00a0underscores the vital role of taxonomy, the science of naming and categorising organisms, in conservation. \u201cDespite 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. <\/p>

“As a first step toward species conservation, we conducted a taxonomic study of amphipod Crustacea, which boasts high species diversity around Japan.”<\/p>

Tomikawa hopes that the panda-patterned\u00a0Melita panda<\/em>\u00a0will inspire public interest in taxonomy and biodiversity.<\/p>

The team plans to delve deeper into the life of\u00a0Melita panda<\/em>\u00a0to uncover potential reasons for its distinctive colouration.<\/p>

\"Cape
Melita panda\u00a0was discovered in the intertidal zone of Japan’s Wakayama Prefecture\/Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Find out more about the study Melita<\/em>\u00a0panda<\/em><\/em>, a new species of\u00a0Melitidae(Crustacea,\u00a0Amphipoda) from Japan<\/a><\/p>

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