PHNOM PENH: Three unique new Millipede Species have been identified in the karst landscapes — limestone rock formations — of Battambang and Kampot provinces.
Environmentalists warn that both areas are facing extreme threats from mining, the expansion of agricultural activities and development.
Orthomorpha efefai, discovered in Battambang in 2024, was named “efefai” in honour of Fauna & Flora, recognising the organisation’s commitment to biodiversity conservation.
Orthomorpha tergoaurantia, discovered in Kampot, was named “tergoaurantia” for its striking orange-colored back and Orthomorpha battambangiensis, discovered in Battambang,was named “battambangiensis” for the province.
Two of these species, part of Fauna & Flora’s work, were identified through extensive fieldwork conducted in 2024 in the karst areas of Banan district, Battambang Province.
“These discoveries bring the total number of Orthomorpha species documented in Cambodia from three to six and significantly expand the known diversity of the genus Orthomorpha in the country,” it stated.
The findings, published in the peer-reviewed journal Zookeys, mark a major milestone in the study of Cambodia and Southeast Asian biodiversity.
The research was carried out by an international team of scientists from the environment ministry, Fauna & Flora; Maejo University, Chulalongkorn University, Mahidol University, and Khon Kaen University; and the Institute of Ecology and Evolution and the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Fauna & Flora noted that the discovery of the new types highlights the importance of protecting Cambodia’s karst landscapes, which serve as vital habitats for biodiversity and may provide experts with opportunities to discover more species new to science.
It added that these landscapes are increasingly threatened by mining, agricultural expansion and unsustainable development.
Protecting these areas is essential not only for biodiversity conservation but also for preserving critical ecosystems and cultural heritage, warned the organisation.
The research was funded by the EU, through the Bcoming project. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
