Taxonomy of the freshwater crab Coccusa cristicervix Ng & Grinang, 2004 (Decapoda: Brachyura: Gecarcinucidae), with description of a new species of Thelphusula from Sarawak, Malaysia, Borneo

The taxonomy of the Sarawakian gecarcinucid freshwater crab Coccusa cristicervix Ng & Grinang, 2004, is revised with the recent discovery of males, and the species is transferred to Thelphusula Bott, 1969. The male abdomen, fi rst and second gonopods are described and fi gured for the fi rst time. A new species, Thelphusula pueh, is also described from swampy habitats in Kampung Sebako in Pueh, Lundu District, Sarawak

A preliminary study of the macroinvertebrate fauna of freshwater habitats in Maludam National Park, Sarawak

Macroinvertebrates are diverse and widespread, and they play important ecological roles in aquatic ecosystems; yet little is known about the macroinvertebrate fauna of the peat swamp forests of Borneo. In light of this knowledge gap, we present a preliminary species list of macroinvertebrates in the peat swamp forest of Maludam National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia. Macroinvertebrates were sampled between April 2011 and November 2014 from three stations on the Maludam River, which flows through the National Park. In total, 3,257 individual macroinvertebrates were examined, representing 37 morpho-species from 20 families and eight orders. Of the total number of individuals captured, 51 % were aquatic beetles (Order Coleoptera), 26 % were aquatic bugs (Hemiptera), 10 % were dragonflies (Odonata), 5 % were flies (Diptera) and 4 % were mayflies (Ephemeroptera). Other orders contributed less than 5 % of the total. The dominant species was the whirligig beetle Dineutus unidentatus (36 % of all individuals caught) which may, thus, be a stenotopic habitat specialist. Despite the harsh environmental conditions of Maludam, where aquatic habitats are acidic and low in dissolved oxygen, the area was found to be inhabited by a diverse macroinvertebrate fauna which is likely to contribute to maintaining the important ecosystem services that the peat swamp forest provides

Checklist of the Odonata (Insecta) of Sundaland and Wallacea (Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia and Timor Leste)

A checklist, based on a database containing published data, of the Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) occurring in Sundaland and wallacea is presented. The presence of (sub)species is indicated for eight main regions (Singapore & Peninsular Malaysia, South China Sea (islands in the South China Sea that are not sensibly treated as satellites of larger landmasses), Borneo, Sumatra, Java & Bali, Lesser Sunda, Sulawesi, Moluccas), 22 subregions and 80 smaller islands and island groups. In total 743 full species are recorded from the entire area with 549 species known from Sundaland and 270 from wallacea. Of these 482 are not found outside Sundaland and wallacea, 385 (ca. 52% of the fauna) of which are single region endemics; the majority of these are actually single island endemics. Notes are provided on taxonomic problems or indicating problematic distribution records. Prodasineura lansbergei is considered to be a nomen nudum (stat nov.). For each of the eight main regions the history of the study of odonates is briefly discussed, information is provided on the coverage of the available data and the faunal composition is described. An overview is given of genera for which no larvae have been described. A brief comparison is made between the faunas of Sundaland and wallacea showing that they only share 10% of the species between them (76 of 743)

Theloderma licin McLeod and Ahmad, 2007 (Lissamphibia: Anura: Rhacophoridae), a New Frog Record for Borneo

A new record of the rhacophorid frog, Theloderma licin is reported from Gunung Serambu, in the Bau region of western Sarawak, East Malaysia, which comprises the first published record of the species from the Sundaic island of Borneo. The species was previously known from the Malay Peninsula (southern Peninsular Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia). Species of Theloderma are widespread in mainland and insular Southeast Asia, their arboreal habits perhaps contributing to our perception of rarity

Assessment of the Water and Sediment Quality of Tropical Forest Streams in Upper Reaches of Baleh River, Sarawak, Malaysia, Subjected to Logging Activities

The study of the impact of logging activities on water and sediment quality of Sarawak forest streams is still scarce despite Sarawak being the largest exporter of timber in Malaysia. This study was aimed at determining the water and sediment quality of forest streams in Sarawak and the potential impact of logging activities. In-situ parameters were measured, and water and sediment samples were collected at six stations before rain. Additionally, water quality was investigated at three stations after rain. The results showed that canopy removal resulted in large temperature variation and sedimentation in the forest streams. Lower suspended solids were found at stations with inactive logging (< 2 mg/L) than active logging (10-16 mg/L) activities. The highest concentration of total nitrogen and total phosphorus in water and sediment was 4.4 mg/L, 77.6 µg/L, 0.17%, and 0.01%, respectively. Besides, significantly negative correlation of sediment nitrogen and water total ammonia nitrogen indicated the loss of nitrogen from sediment to water. Water quality of the streams deteriorated after rain, in particular, suspended solids which increased from 8.3 mg/L to 104.1 mg/L. This study reveals that logging activities have an impact on the water quality of Sarawak forest streams particularly in rainfall events