Decades after its initial discovery in Japan, a crustacean species displaying distinctive black-and-white coloration reminiscent of a panda has been recognized as a new species in the field of science.
Decades after its initial discovery in Japan, a distinctive species of crustacean—characterized by its unusual black-and-white pattern similar to a panda—has been confirmed as new to science. These shrimp-like creatures, known as Melitid amphipods, inhabit waters worldwide. The newly identified Melita panda, named for the endearing mammal, was first discovered in the 1990s. A report detailing this discovery and the morphological examination was published in ZooKeys on September 21.
The identification of Melita panda underscores the critical role of species taxonomy, which involves the naming and classification of living organisms, in conservation initiatives. Understanding whether a species is at risk of extinction is impossible if it has not yet been recognized.
“Even though preserving biodiversity is a global concern, the full extent of species diversity and other biodiversity components remains unclear. As a preliminary measure for species conservation, we undertook a taxonomic examination of amphipod Crustacea, which show significant species diversity around Japan,” explained Ko Tomikawa, a professor at Hiroshima University’s Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences in Hiroshima, Japan.
Prior to the identification of Melita panda, there were already 63 documented species of Melita amphipods, with 16 species found within Japan. The Melita panda was located in the intertidal zones of Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. It is likely that there are even more unidentified and undescribed species of Melita amphipods along Japan’s coasts.
“Research on amphipod Crustacea in Japan’s coastal areas is relatively underdeveloped. To accurately gauge species diversity, taxonomic studies are essential. We hope that the discovery of this new amphipod species, featuring the familiar panda color scheme, will spark greater public interest in biodiversity and taxonomy,” added Tomikawa.
To identify Melita panda, researchers conducted both morphological examinations and molecular phylogenetic analysis using genomic DNA. The morphological evaluation of Melita panda revealed unique characteristics such as its panda-like coloration, while the molecular phylogeny helped establish its close relationships with other Melita amphipods. This information assists in constructing a phylogenetic tree, illustrating the evolutionary relationships among the known Melita amphipods. Phylogenetic trees are diagrams that depict how species are evolutionarily connected.
The molecular phylogenetic study indicated that Melita panda shares a close relationship with two other Melita amphipods, namely Melita nagatai and Melita koreana. The distinctive panda-like appearance sets Melita panda apart from these two species, along with other anatomical differences. Its gnathopods, the claws extending from the second thoracic segment, are positioned farther forward compared to other Melita amphipods, covering one of its other appendages. Its setae, which are hair-like structures resembling bristles, also differ from those of other Melita amphipods. Collectively, Melita nagatai, Melita koreana, and the newly identified Melita panda belong to a monophyletic group, suggesting they share a common evolutionary ancestor, specifically Melita hoshinoi.
Looking toward the future, researchers plan to continue their explorations of Melita panda.
“We hope a thorough examination of the ecology and behavior of Melita panda will shed light on the reasons behind its panda-like coloration,” stated Tomikawa.
Apart from Melita panda, Tomikawa highlighted the need for further research.
“Additional taxonomic studies on amphipods in underexplored regions are likely to result in the identification of more new species. Ongoing taxonomic research is expected to deepen our understanding of biodiversity in Japan’s coastal environments and provide critical foundational data for species conservation,” he noted.
Other contributors include Shigeyuki Yamato from Shirahama Katata in Wakayama, Japan, and Hiroyuki Ariyama from the Osaka Museum of Natural History in Osaka, Japan.
This research was supported by grants from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science KAKENHI.
