A Legacy Of Wallace: Sarawak Museum And The History Of Herpetological Research In Sarawak

We provide an account of the history of herpetology of Sarawak, and the contributions of early collectors and observers. Alfred Russel Wallace wrote a long passage on the gliding habits of the so-called Wallace's Flying Frog, and made a small collection of reptiles and amphibians. He is also said to have inspired James Brooke, the First Rajah of Sarawak, to start the Sarawak Museum. This historic collection is repository of herpetological specimens made by Edward Bartlett, Charles Hose, Robert Shelford and Tom Harrisson. More recent collections have been made during field work in northern Sarawak by Robert F. Inger of the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Robert B. Stuebing, during the International Tropical Timber Organisation Expedition to Lanjak-Entimau, and during the Royal Geographical Society/Sarawak Forest Department Expedition to Gunung Mulu (1977–78). New amphibian species from the Mulu Expedition were described by Julian Dring. At present, types of five amphibian and eight reptile species are extant in the Sarawak Museum collection

マレーシア,サラワク州,クチンで採集されたArmigeres (Armigeres) setifer Delfinadoの再記載

金沢大学留学生センターマレーシアのサラワク州,クチンの海岸沿いのココナツ園の落下した果実の水溜りより採集したクロヤブカ属(Armigeres)の蚊は,既知種や米国の自然史博物館に保管してある模式標本と比較した結果,Armigeres setifer Delfinado,1966と同定された.本種はフィリピンのパラワン島から採集された雄成虫の不完全な標本をもとに記載されている.本論文では本種の成虫,幼虫,蛹を含めて再記載を行うと共に,図や写真でも示した. Redescriptions and illustrations are presented for larval, pupal and adult stages of Armigeres (Armigeres) setifer Delfinado, 1966 based on specimens collected in Kuching, East Malaysia. This species is recorded outside of the type locality, Palawan, Philippines, for the first time. The immatures of this species breed in coconut shells with high organic water

マレーシアとインドネシア産のTopomyia decorabilis Leicester,1908の再記載

金沢大学留学生センターマレーシアとインドネシアで採集されたTopomyia (Suaymyia) decorabilis Leicester,1908,の標本をもとに成虫を再記載,蛹,幼虫は初記載し,近縁種と形態を比較した.また,各期の形態や特徴を図や写真で示した.本種の特徴は大型で,生殖器のgonostylusは単状で分岐していない,paramereが異常に長く,先端が尖っている.また,幼虫の呼吸管は長く,呼吸管毛は発達し,ジグザグに基部から先端に生えている.背側には16～26本あり,それぞれが3～11分岐し,腹側には24～33本あり,それぞれが1～10分岐していることなども特徴である.本種はマレー半島,東マレーシア,スマトラ島に普通に分布している.幼虫はアリやカミキリムシが穿孔し,開口した小穴(直径2-5mm)を有する青い(生)竹筒内の水溜りに単独で生息し,捕食性で,顕著な口器(maxilla,mandible)を有する.Detailed redescriptions and illustrations of the adults including male genitalia, pupa and larva of Topomyia (Suaymyia) decorabilis Leicester, 1908 are presented based on specimens collected in Malaysia and Indonesia. The pupa and larva of the species are described for the first time. The larva of the species is predacious, having enlarged maxillae

Entering university as the first: Understanding first-generation students’ challenges and their coping strategies at Universiti Malaysia Sabah

For many first-generation students, higher education act as an important turning point that can help to advance their inherited socioeconomic status. Without university-educated parents, first-generation students often time lack the social capital and cultural capital that are crucial for their integration at university. Therefore, this study explores the challenges faced by first-generation students and the coping strategies they have relied on to overcome them. Semi-structured interviews were conducted virtually with 15 third-year, first-generation students from the Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), a public university in Malaysia. Guided by social capital theory and cultural capital theory, research data were analyzed and coded for themes by using thematic analysis. The research findings demonstrate that first-generation students were academically, socially and financially challenged by the university due to their initial limited understanding of preparation for university. Their past academic experience, family’s socioeconomic background, and parents’ education levels have inevitably placed them in a disadvantaged position at university. However, these students possess positive outlooks that have overshadowed various challenges in their university degree journey. In opposition to the view that first-generation students are less competent to persist at university owing to their socioeconomic backgrounds, the support from their family and peers has significantly motivated them to continue pursuing their dreams. Therefore, it is hoped that the meaningful insights provided in this study can be taken as a valuable reference for universities and schools to better understand this group of students

Revision, phylogeny, and microhabitat shifts in the Southeast Asian spider genus <i>Aetana</i> (Araneae, Pholcidae)

The previously poorly known Southeast Asian spider genus Aetana Huber, 2005 is revised. Fifteen species are newly described, and the first SEM data and a first phylogenetic analysis of the genus are presented. Four species groups are well supported, one restricted to Borneo, two restricted to the Philippines, and one ranging from the Philippines to Fiji. The cladistic analysis and field observations suggest that the ancestor of Aetana built its web close to the ground, in confined spaces among and under rocks and logs. In at least two cases, evolutionary shifts of microhabitat resulted in species being adapted to life in higher forest strata, with correlated morphological and behavioral changes (lighter coloration; longer abdomen; additional sheet in web or more strongly domed web). The following species are newly described: A. abadae Huber, sp. nov., A. baganihan Huber, sp. nov., A. banahaw Huber, sp. nov., A. kiukoki Huber, sp. nov., A. libjo Huber, sp. nov., A. loboc Huber, sp. nov., A. lozadae Huber, sp. nov., A. manansalai Huber, sp. nov., A. ocampoi Huber, sp. nov., A. paragua Huber, sp. nov. and A. pasambai Huber, sp. nov. from the Philippines; A. gaya Huber, sp. nov., A. indah Huber, sp. nov., A. lambir Huber, sp. nov. and A. poring Huber, sp. nov. from northern Borneo. The female of A. kinabalu Huber, 2005 is newly described. A potential case of female genital dimorphism is documented in A. ocampoi Huber, sp. nov.The previously poorly known Southeast Asian spider genus Aetana Huber, 2005 is revised. Fifteen species are newly described, and the first SEM data and a first phylogenetic analysis of the genus are presented. Four species groups are well supported, one restricted to Borneo, two restricted to the Philippines, and one ranging from the Philippines to Fiji. The cladistic analysis and field observations suggest that the ancestor of Aetana built its web close to the ground, in confined spaces among and under rocks and logs. In at least two cases, evolutionary shifts of microhabitat resulted in species being adapted to life in higher forest strata, with correlated morphological and behavioral changes (lighter coloration; longer abdomen; additional sheet in web or more strongly domed web). The following species are newly described: A. abadae Huber, sp. nov., A. baganihan Huber, sp. nov., A. banahaw Huber, sp. nov., A. kiukoki Huber, sp. nov., A. libjo Huber, sp. nov., A. loboc Huber, sp. nov., A. lozadae Huber, sp. nov., A. manansalai Huber, sp. nov., A. ocampoi Huber, sp. nov., A. paragua Huber, sp. nov. and A. pasambai Huber, sp. nov. from the Philippines; A. gaya Huber, sp. nov., A. indah Huber, sp. nov., A. lambir Huber, sp. nov. and A. poring Huber, sp. nov. from northern Borneo. The female of A. kinabalu Huber, 2005 is newly described. A potential case of female genital dimorphism is documented in A. ocampoi Huber, sp. nov.</p

The Philippine hair wax spiders and their relatives: revision of the &lt;i&gt;Pholcus bicornutus&lt;/i&gt; species group (Araneae, Pholcidae)

We revise the Southeast Asian Pholcus bicornutus group in which males are characterized by a unique pair of horns on their ocular area, each of which carries at its tip a brush of hairs. In two species, the two hair brushes are ‘glued’ or ‘waxed’ together by an unidentified substance into a very consistently curved and pointed single median tip. In the other five species known, the hairs are unglued. We present a first revision of ocular modifications in Pholcidae and identify twenty supposedly independent origins. Most cases are in Pholcinae, and all but one case are limited to the male, suggesting sexual selection as the main driving force in the evolution of ocular modifications in Pholcidae. Previously, the Pholcus bicornutus group consisted of four species limited to the Philippines. We describe four new species, including three species from the Philippines (P. olangapo Huber, sp. nov.; P. kawit Huber, sp. nov.; P. baguio Huber, sp. nov.) and the first representative from outside the Philippines (P. mulu Huber, sp. nov. from Sarawak, NE Borneo) and provide new records and SEM data for three previously described species.</p

The &lt;i&gt;Panjange nigrifrons&lt;/i&gt; group in Borneo (Araneae: Pholcidae): high diversity in Sarawak, apparent absence in Sabah

We revise the Panjange nigrifrons group in Borneo and document an unexpected diversity in western Sarawak forests. Five species occur within 80 km from Kuching, each species being known from its type locality only. Further species occur east until Niah, but the genus seems to be absent from Sabah. We contrast this with another pholcid genus (Aetana Huber, 2005), which is diverse in Sabah and westward until Niah, but does not seem to occur in central and western Sarawak. Five species are newly described: Panjange kapit Huber, sp. nov., Panjange kubah Huber, sp. nov., Panjange niah Huber, sp. nov., Panjange pueh Huber, sp. nov., Panjange seowi Huber, sp. nov.; Panjange tahai (Huber, 2011) comb. nov. is transferred from Pholcus.</p

The Panjange nigrifrons group in Borneo (Araneae: Pholcidae): high diversity in Sarawak, apparent absence in Sabah

We revise the Panjange nigrifrons group in Borneo and document an unexpected diversity in western Sarawak forests. Five species occur within 80 km from Kuching, each species being known from its type locality only. Further species occur east until Niah, but the genus seems to be absent from Sabah. We contrast this with another pholcid genus (Aetana Huber, 2005), which is diverse in Sabah and westward until Niah, but does not seem to occur in central and western Sarawak. Five species are newly described: Panjange kapit Huber, sp. nov., Panjange kubah Huber, sp. nov., Panjange niah Huber, sp. nov., Panjange pueh Huber, sp. nov., Panjange seowi Huber, sp. nov.; Panjange tahai (Huber, 2011) comb. nov. is transferred from Pholcus