SEMPORNA: A tiny crustacean discovered in a submerged marine cave off Sipadan Island has been named 'Sipadanomolgus dissimilis', marking the discovery of both a new species and an entirely new genus.
The copepod was collected using a light trap inside Turtle Tomb, a submerged marine cave at the world-renowned diving destination.
"The discovery goes beyond identifying a previously unknown species.
"The researchers established an entirely new genus, 'Sipadanomolgus', because the animal possesses a distinctive combination of anatomical features that does not fit the existing genera in its family," Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia associate professor Dr Azman Abdul Rahim told the New Straits Times.
He led the research under the Ocean Census programme, a global initiative to discover and document marine life.
The research was also conducted with Dr Chaichat Boonyanusith of Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University and Dr Koraon Wongkamhaeng of Kasetsart University, both in Thailand.
"Although copepods are widespread in marine environments, their diversity in specialised habitats such as submerged caves remains incompletely documented," Azman said.
Published in the 'European Journal of Taxonomy' on Oct 20, 2026, the findings add to previous discoveries of newly described crustaceans in Turtle Tomb, highlighting the scientific value of exploring specialised marine habitats.
He added that the discovery also expands knowledge of Sipadan's biodiversity beyond its well-known coral reefs and larger marine animals, showing how its less visible cave-dwelling organisms can contribute to understanding marine life.
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