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A new species of bird discovered in Indonesia

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A mysterious new species of Honey Eater myzomela It is explained by an international team of ornithologists from Malaysia, India, the UK and the US.

Babar Mizomera (Myzomela babarensis). Image credit: James A. Eaton.

myzomela It is the largest and most geographically extensive genus of the Honey Eater family. Merifagidae.

It currently contains more than 40 scientifically recognized species, first described in 1827 by naturalists Nicholas Vigers and Thomas Horsefield.

myzomela From Indonesia to Australia and Pacific islands, from Micronesia and Samoa.

The genus is a colorful, nectar-eating bird. They are important elements of the island’s ecosystem and often constitute some of the most abundant canopy birds in eastern Indonesia.

In the new study, Birdlife international ornithologist Alex Berryman and colleagues made a taxonomic revision of three populations called The Species. Banda Mizomera (Myzomela boiei)).

“We investigated the taxonomy Myzomela boiei“A colorful, sexually dimorphic honey eater distributed in two subspecies in three island groups in the Banda Sea in southern Marc,” the researchers explained.

“Myzomela Boiei Boiei Occurs in the Banda Islands Myzomela boiei Annabella occurs in Babar (and possibly its satellites) and in Taninbaru Islands (at least Yamdena and Serral, and perhaps the whole). ”

“With the addition of Damard, Leti Islands, Kisar and other small islands, these islands form the “Banda Sea Island,” a region with relatively low bird diversity but high endemic as expected. ”

The author examined 28 museum specimens and 21 sound recordings Myzomela boieiand 152 regeneration experiments were also performed.

The specimens were provided by the New York State Museum of Natural History and the Natural History Museum of Tring.

Sound recordings have been verified xeno-canto.org and Macaulay Libraryand by contacting sound recorders who visited the relevant island.

“compared to Myzomela Boiei Annabellae, Myzomela Boiei Boiei C. There are 10% longer wings, bills and Tulsas, a wider black chest band, lower duskier rear, and a very diverse song. In the regeneration experiment, Myzomela Boiei Boiei It has been proven to not respond to recordings of Myzomela Boiei AnnabellaeThe scientist said.

“But the song Myzomela boiei The Annabella of Taninbar and Babar are also very diverse, with the population of both islands not responding to songs from other islands. ”

“Babar birds are also slightly larger Myzomela Boiei Annabellae With Taninbar (has a 10% longer tail), there may be more scar colour on the back. ”

It has been named Myzomela babarensis (The generic name is Babar Mizomera), the newly described species is probably endemic to Babar, which contains five small satellites on the island.

“Myzomela boiei Currently listed as At least concern On the IUCN Red List,” the researcher said.

“Proposed department Myzomela boiei It may be superficially suggest that each of the three range-limited species may increase the risk of extinction. All populations are highly adaptable to habitat degradation and are common within their respective ranges. ”

“Myzomela babarensis As it occurs in all types of wooded habitats, including “degraded farmland,” its population is likely to be little affected by the ongoing forest degradation of Babar. ”

“We propose that Myzomela boiei, Myzomela annabellae and Myzomela babarensis It's best to consider At least concern. ”

Team's paper It was published in Brief news from the British Ornithologists' Club.

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Alex J. Berryman et al. 2025. Taxonomic revision of Banda Mizomera Myzomela boiei (S. Muller 1843) includes an explanation of a new species of Babar Island, Indonesia. Brief news from the British Ornithologists' Club 145(1):35-48; doi:10.25226/bboc.v145i1.2025.a4

Source: www.sci.news

Indonesia blocks sales of Apple iPhone 16 over insufficient investment, company faces restrictions

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Indonesia has prohibited Apple from marketing and selling the iPhone 16 model due to non-compliance with local investment regulations, as stated by the Indonesian Ministry of Industry.

Despite Southeast Asia’s largest economy having a significant population of young, tech-savvy individuals with over 100 million people under the age of 30, Apple does not have an official store in the country. Those interested in Apple products resort to purchasing them from resale platforms.

A spokesperson for Indonesia’s Ministry of Industry revealed that imported iPhone 16 model phones released in September cannot be sold in the country because Apple’s local division fails to meet the requirement of 40% of the phones being manufactured with local parts.

“iPhone 16 devices imported by registered importers are currently not permitted for sale in the country,” stated ministry spokesperson Febri Hendry Antoni Arif on Friday.

“Apple Indonesia…has not fulfilled its investment commitments to obtain certification.”

To meet this criteria, Apple would need to invest in Indonesia and source materials for iPhone parts from the country, as reported by local media outlets. Apple had previously pledged Rp 1.7 trillion in investments in Indonesia but had only invested Rp 1.5 trillion by the beginning of the month.

Apple has not responded to inquiries from the Guardian.

The ministry clarified that new Apple mobile phones can be brought into Indonesia as long as they are not intended for commercial trade.

An estimated 9,000 new models have been imported into the country of approximately 280 million people. Although these products entered the country legally, selling them in Indonesia would be considered illegal.

Past bans imposed in Indonesia, similar to the one on Apple, have been aimed at promoting domestic production. However, the outcomes have been mixed.

According to Counterpoint Research, China’s Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, and South Korea’s Samsung dominated Indonesia’s smartphone market shipment share in the second quarter of this year.

The absence of Apple in Indonesia signifies a missed opportunity for the company, which has experienced success in other parts of Asia. Indonesia currently has more mobile phones in use than its population.

In April, Apple CEO Tim Cook visited Indonesia to explore investment opportunities in Southeast Asia’s largest economy and diversify its supply chain away from China. He engaged in discussions with then-President Joko Widodo and his successor Prabowo Subianto after Apple announced plans to expand its developer academy in the country.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Discovery of Giant Fossil Legume Seed from Extinct Plant in Borneo Island, Indonesia

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Paleontologists unearthed three large seeds (up to 7.2 centimeters long) and 43 fossil leaves of the ancient legume at the Wahana Baratama coal mine near Satui in South Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo.

Juntungspermum gunneriImages/Photos Courtesy of: Spagnuolo others., doi: 10.1086/730538.

The newly identified legume lived in Southeast Asia between 40 and 34 million years ago (the Eocene Epoch).

Named Juntungspermum gunneriIt is very similar to the Australian black bean plant. Cassis.

“The tree currently occurs only in the coastal rainforests of northern Australia and nearby islands,” said Professor Peter Wilf of Pennsylvania State University and his colleagues.

Paleontologists found three fossil seeds, 43 leaves and pollen samples. Juntungspermum gunneri of Tanjun Formation South Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo.

Also found were fossil tracks of a variety of birds, burrowing evidence of marine invertebrates, and the fossil remains of turtles.

“The seeds Juntungspermum gunneri “Apart from coconuts and other palm trees, it is one of the largest in the fossil record,” the researchers said.

“They probably grew up to a metre (3 feet) in length – about the length of a baseball bat – and in pods that could hold up to five seeds.”

“This fossil is the oldest legume fossil ever found in the Malay Archipelago and the first fossil record of a plant related to the black bean plant anywhere in the world.”

The researchers suggest that ancestors of the black bean plant migrated from Asia to Australia during a plate collision that brought the continents closer together, allowing for the exchange of plants and animals between the continents.

“The collision of the Southeast Asian and Australian plates, which began approximately 20 million years ago and is ongoing today, has led to a large-scale exchange of plant and animal species between the two continents,” the researchers said.

“This discovery provides the first macrofossil evidence of a migration of plant lineages from Asia to Australia following the Asia-Australia tectonic collision.”

“These fossil seeds are Cassis “They migrated from Southeast Asia to Australia during a tectonic collision and then became extinct in Asia,” said Edward Spagnolo, a doctoral student at Pennsylvania State University.

“This proposal runs counter to most of the existing direct macrofossil evidence of plant migration, which shows lineages migrating from Australia into Asia.”

of result Appears in International Journal of Plant Science.

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Edward J. Spagnuolo others2024. Giant seeds of extant Australian legumes are discovered in Eocene Borneo (South Kalimantan, Indonesia). International Journal of Plant Sciencein press; doi: 10.1086/730538

Source: www.sci.news

Archaeologists unearth ancient fishing hook in Indonesia

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Many individuals engage in fishing for both sustenance and recreation in modern times. Ever pondered about the origins of fishing? While fishing has been a part of human history for centuries, the limited discovery of ancient fishing hooks poses a challenge in uncovering the details of past fishing practices.

Although fishhooks dating back over 20,000 years have been unearthed, those found on coastlines or excavation sites older than approximately 12,000 years are scarce. However, recent discoveries by researchers from Australia and Indonesia have shed light on this subject.

In Makupang Cave on Indonesia’s Alor Island, a significant collection of 239 fishing artifacts estimated to be up to 15,000 years old was uncovered. Most of these artifacts date back to a period between 11,000 and 13,000 years ago, including 218 fishing hooks and fragments. Makpan, located on the southwest coast of Alor, was identified as a convenient storage spot for ancient fishing equipment due to its proximity to the sea, even during periods of lower sea levels, such as the last ice age approximately 25,000 years ago.

During excavations at Makupang, the research team carefully removed accumulated layers of soil and dust to uncover the ancient fishing hooks. The sediment from the cave entrance was meticulously examined through a 1.5-millimeter mesh sieve. Other fishing remnants, including hooks and fragments, were recovered and analyzed under a powerful microscope to determine the ancient techniques used in their production.

The researchers identified various types of hooks, including jab hooks, rotating hooks, and sinkers, as well as possible fishing lures. These hooks, ranging from 9 to 50 millimeters in size, were predominantly crafted from shellfish such as limpets, Rokia, and turbo. By studying the tool collection, researchers could discern the process of hook-making, which indicated multiple craftsmen involved in the production.

The discovery in Makupang Cave is considered remarkable due to the abundance of fishing artifacts found, surpassing previous finds from the same period by more than five times. Ongoing research at the site is anticipated to offer further insights into ancient fishing practices.

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Source: sciworthy.com

A new frog species with tiny fangs found in Indonesia

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Biologists have discovered a new species of land-nesting tree frog Limnonectes Lives in Sulawesi, Indonesia. Adult body size is the smallest of all species. Limnonectes Island Frog – Maximum nostril length is approximately 3 cm (1.2 inches).

Limnonectes phylofolia.Image credit: Frederick other., doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292598.

Limnonectes is a large genus of the fork-tongued frog family Dicroglossaceae.

This genus includes more than 75 scientifically recognized species. They are collectively known as fanged frogs because they tend to have unusually large teeth that are small or absent in other frogs.

They use their fangs to compete with each other for territory and mates, and sometimes hunt hard-shelled prey such as giant centipedes and crabs.

Limnonectes The species is distributed from India through China, Indochina, Thailand and the Malaysian Peninsula, to the Sunda Shelf landmass (Borneo, Sumatra, Java), the Marx Islands, the Lesser Sunda Islands, parts of western New Guinea, and the Philippines. .

Larger species prefer fast-flowing rivers, while smaller species live in fallen leaves or on riverbanks.

‘The reproductive biology of the yellow-throated frog is surprisingly complex,’ say researchers at the Field Museum of Natural History. Jeffrey Frederick and his colleagues.

“For example, the two Malay races Limnonectes hasianus and Limnonectes limborgii, together with larval ontogeny, demonstrate protection of terrestrial eggs by males. The larvae hatch as free-living tadpoles, but remain in a nest guarded by the male and survive solely on nutrition from the yolk sac. ”

“Four types of Limnonectes From Borneo, Limnonectes coulis, Limnonectes bruti, Limnonectes Ibanorumand Limnonectes ingeri They are “voiceless” and lack a vocal sac for advertising calls. ”

The name of the newly described species is Limnonectes phylofolialives on the island of Sulawesi, a rugged mountainous island that forms part of Indonesia.

“Sulawesi is a huge island with vast mountain ranges, volcanoes, lowland rainforests and mountain cloud forests,” Dr Frederick said.

“The existence of all these different habitats means that the scale of the biodiversity of many plants and animals we discover there is unrealistic, comparable to places like the Amazon.”

“Limnonectes phylofolia “It is small compared to other fanged frogs on the island where it has been found, about a quarter of the size,” he added.

“Many frogs in this genus are huge, weighing up to 2 pounds. This new species weighs, to put it simply, about the same as a dime.”

To the surprise of the research team, Limnonectes phylofolia All individuals caring for eggs were male.

“Male frogs guard one or more eggs garnished with leaves or moss-covered rocks 1 to 2 meters above slow-moving streams, rivulets, or leachate,” the researchers said. said.

“Such behavior is not completely unknown in all frogs, but it is rather rare.”

They hypothesize that the frog’s abnormal reproductive behavior may also be related to smaller-than-normal fangs.

“Some members of the frog family have larger tusks, which help them avoid competition for places to lay their eggs in the water along rivers,” the researchers said.

“Because these frogs have evolved a way to lay their eggs away from the water, they may have lost the need for such large, impressive fangs.”

“It is interesting that with each subsequent expedition to Sulawesi, new and diverse modes of reproduction are discovered,” concluded Dr. Frederick.

“Our findings also highlight the importance of protecting these very special tropical habitats.”

“Most of the animals that live in places like Sulawesi are very unique, and habitat destruction has always been a pressing conservation issue in order to preserve the great diversity of species found there. Masu.”

“Learning about animals like these frogs, which are found nowhere else on Earth, can help advocate for protecting these precious ecosystems.”

discovery of Limnonectes phylofolia is reported in paper in diary PLoS ONE.

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JH Frederick other. 2023. A new species of land-nesting tusked frog (Dicroglossidae) from Sulawesi, Indonesia. PLoS ONE 18 (12): e0292598; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292598

Source: www.sci.news