Research Publication

Akanthomyces infaproensis sp. nov. (Cordycipitaceae, Hypocreales), a new entomopathogenic fungus from Sabah, Malaysian Borneo

MUHAMMAD SHAHBAZ, CHONG CHUAN CHEAK, IBRAHEM GHANI WASTI, YAP SAU WAI, JAYA SEELAN SATHIYA SEELAN

Published on 28/08/2026 — PHYTOTAXA

Shahbaz, M., Cheak, C.C., Wasti, I.G., Wai, Y.S. & Seelan, J.S.S. (2026) Akanthomyces infaproensis sp. nov. (Cordycipitaceae, Hypocreales), a new entomopathogenic fungus from Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Phytotaxa 772 (2): 101–120.

Abstract Akanthomyces Lebert belongs to the family Cordycipitaceae (Hypocreales, Sordariomycetes), which is regarded as one of the most important groups of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF). Despite the high fungal diversity in Sabah, Malaysia, the systematics and phylogeny of Akanthomyces in this region is still lacking. This study aimed to characterize entomopathogenic fungal specimens collected from Sabah using morphological and molecular phylogenetic approaches to determine their taxonomic sta...

DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.772.2.1

Hidden in the dark: A new record and species of cave-dwelling Palaumysis (Crustacea, Mysidacea) from Sipadan Turtle Tomb, Malaysia, with identification keys to world species

Abdul-Rahim Azman, Shozo Sawamoto, Abu-Bakar Ahmad-Zaki

Published on 08/07/2026 — ZooKeys

Azman A-R, Sawamoto S, Ahmad-Zaki A-B (2026) Hidden in the dark: A new record and species of cave-dwelling Palaumysis (Crustacea, Mysidacea) from Sipadan Turtle Tomb, Malaysia, with identification keys to world species. ZooKeys 1284: 205–215

A new species of the cave-dwelling mysid genus Palaumysis Bacescu & Iliffe, 1986 is described from the marine cave Turtle Tomb, Sipadan Island, Sabah, Malaysia. This represents the first record of the genus from Malaysian waters. The new species belongs to the group of Palaumysis species characterized by a reduced carapace, exposing the last five thoracic somites, but is distinguished from its congeners by the combination of adult body size exceeding 2.5 mm, a 5-segmented inner flagellum of the...

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1284.192633ZooKeys 1284: 205–215 (2026) DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1284.192633

Metarhizium tawauensis (Clavicipitaceae, Hypocreales), a new entomopathogenic fungus from Sabah, northern Borneo, Malaysia

MUHAMMAD SHAHBAZ, IBRAHEM GHANI WASTI, ZAINUDDIN BALUAT, ELYSE YANG MEEI LING, JAYA SEELAN SATHIYA SEELAN

Published on 24/06/2026 — PHYTOTAXA

SHAHBAZ, M., WASTI, I. G., BALUAT, Z., LING, E. Y. M., & SEELAN, J. S. S. (2026). Metarhizium tawauensis (Clavicipitaceae, Hypocreales), a new entomopathogenic fungus from Sabah, northern Borneo, Malaysia. Phytotaxa, 763(3), 219–234. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.763.3.2 ‌

Metarhizium Sorokin (Clavicipitaceae, Hypocreales) is a widely studied entomopathogenic fungi. Currently, Metarhizium has expanded to 92 species worldwide. The rainforests of Malaysia provide ideal ecological conditions that support high fungal diversity. In Malaysia, previous studies on entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) primarily focused on their applications as biological control agents, with limited attention to systematics and taxonomy. However, to date, studies on detailed systematics and phylog...

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.763.3.2

Individual-level movement and space use of Sunda clouded leopards revealed by GPS telemetry and camera traps in a human- modified Bornean landscape

Andrew J. Hearn, Fernando Nájera, Nájera, Gilmoore Bolongon, Meaghan N. Evans, Sandra Lai and 6 others

Published on 22/06/2026 — Animal Biotelemetry

Hearn A.J., Nájera F., Bolongon G. et al. Individual-level movement and space use of Sunda clouded leopards revealed by GPS telemetry and camera traps in a human-modified Bornean landscape. Anim Biotelemetry (2026).

Abstract High-resolution telemetry can reveal how elusive carnivores move and use space in fragmented, human-modified landscapes. The Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi), a forest-dependent felid endemic to Borneo and Sumatra, remains among the least-studied large tropical carnivores, with very limited individual-level movement data. We present the first high-resolution GPS telemetry dataset for the species, using 20-min GPS fixes from four collared adults, integrated with concurrent long...

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-026-00474-0

Efficacy of field-based surveys for detecting and assessing demographics of giant snakes (Malayopython reticulatus) in Malaysia

Richard Burger, Daniel J. D. Natusch, Richard Shine, Ian P. Vaughan, Symphorosa Sipangkui, Benoit Goossens

Published on 08/06/2026 — Scientific Reports

Burger, R., Natusch, D.J.D., Shine, R. et al. Efficacy of field-based surveys for detecting and assessing demographics of giant snakes (Malayopython reticulatus) in Malaysia. Sci Rep 16, 26081 (2026).

Abstract Evaluating sustainable levels of offtake is central to regulating the commercial harvest of wildlife species, but methods developed for temperate-zone mammal and bird species may be inapplicable to tropical rainforest reptiles. For example, population viability models require information on abundance and on rates of growth, maturation, survival, and reproduction. For some intensively harvested reptiles - especially well-camouflaged ambush predators in densely vegetated habitats - suc...

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-57269-9

Exploring the antifungal potential of Lignosus rhinocerus as a green nano factory for silver nanoparticles synthesis against plant pathogens

Muhammad Shahbaz, Chuan Cheak Chong, Jaya Seelan Sathiya Seelan

Published on 01/06/2026

Shahbaz, M., Chong, C., Palaniveloo, K. et al. Exploring the antifungal potential of Lignosus rhinocerus as a green nano factory for silver nanoparticles synthesis against plant pathogens. J Plant Dis Prot 133, 113 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41348-026-01303-5

Fungal pathogens including Fusarium and Aspergillus species are harmful to agricultural crops and are becoming increas ingly resistant to existing antifungal drugs. Therefore, it is necessary to explore safer and more effective alternatives. Lignosus rhinocerus (LR), a medicinal mushroom rich in bioactive metabolites, provides an environmentally sustainable source of reducing and stabilizing agents for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). In this study, L. rhinocerus extract was...

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41348-026-01303-5

Calocybe kinabaluensis (Lyophyllaceae, Agaricales), a new species from Kinabalu UNESCO Global Geopark, Sabah, Northern Borneo, Malaysia

JAYA SEELAN SATHIYA SEELAN, ALFREDO VIZZINI, IBRAHEM GHANI WASTI, JAMIL KASMIN, NUR AMANINA BINTI USIMIN, MUHAMMAD SHAHBAZ

Published on 29/05/2026 — PHYTOTAXA

Seelan, J. S. S., Vizzini, A., Wasti, I. G., Kasmin, J., Usimin, N. A. B., & Shahbaz, M. (2026). Calocybe kinabaluensis (Lyophyllaceae, Agaricales), a new species from Kinabalu UNESCO Global Geopark, Sabah, Northern Borneo, Malaysia. Phytotaxa, 759(3), 227–244. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.759.3

Calocybe kinabaluensis sp. nov. was collected and described from Kinabalu UNESCO Global Geopark in Sabah, Malaysia. Morphological and phylogenetic evidence were used to delimit the collections as a new species. The species is characterized by its small to medium-sized basidiomata, deep blue to indigo-blue pileus with an irregularly lobed and undulate margin, and whitish to pale cream adnate to decurrent lamellae. Microscopically, it is distinguished by ovoid to broadly ellipsoid basidios...

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.759.3.3

New species and bioacoustics of Varitrella (Cantotrella) (Oecanthidae: Podoscirtinae) from Sulu Archipelago and Borneo’s Sabah

Helen H. Haibil, Olga Macas Nuñeza, Dayang Fazrinah Binti Awg Damit, Razy Japir, Arthur Y. C. Chung, Ming Kai Tan

Published on 28/05/2026 — New species and bioacoustics of Varitrella (Cantotrella) (Oecanthidae: Podoscirtinae) from Sulu Archipelago and Borneo’s Sabah

Haibil, H. H., Nuñeza, O. M., Damit, D. F. B. A., Japir, R., Chung, A. Y. C., & Tan, M. K. (2026). New species and bioacoustics of Varitrella (Cantotrella) (Oecanthidae: Podoscirtinae) from Sulu Archipelago and Borneo’s Sabah. Zootaxa, 5821(1), 61–77. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5821.1.4

Two new species of Varitrella (Cantotrella) (Oecanthidae: Podoscirtinae) are described from Sulu Archipelago: Varitrella (Cantotrella) sulu Haibil, Nuñeza & Tan, sp. nov. and Varitrella (Cantotrella) alternata Haibil, Nuñeza & Tan, sp. nov. The calling songs of Varitrella (Cantotrella) sulu Haibil, Nuñeza & Tan, sp. nov. and Varitrella (Cantotrella) trusmadi Gorochov, 2014 are also described.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5821.1.4

A New Species of Leptobacillium and Additional Records of Simplicillium and Leptobacillium from Sabah, Malaysia

Muhammad Shahbaz, Frederik C. De Wint, Jeremiah Sia Yiao Rong, Yap Jing Wei, Qian-Qun Koid, Tom Fayle and 4 others

Published on 08/05/2026 — New Zealand Journal of Botany

Shahbaz, M., De Wint, F. C., Sia Yiao Rong, J., Yap, J. W., Koid, Q.-Q., Palaniveloo, K., & Sathiya Seelan, J. S. (2026). A new species of Leptobacillium and additional records of Simplicillium and Leptobacillium from Sabah, Malaysia.

Simplicillium and Leptobacillium are entomopathogenic fungal genera frequently associated with arthropods in tropical ecosys tems and considered promising candidates for biological pest control. However, the diversity of these genera in tropical regions, particularly in Malaysia, has not been systematically investigated in the context of their taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships. This study aimed to investigate the taxonomic diversity and phylogenetic relationship of Simplicillium and Lep...

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/nzb2.70107

Taxonomy and phylogeny of Pleurocordyceps (Polycephalomycetaceae, Hypocreales) associated with ants and cicadas from Malaysia, including a new species and new records

MUHAMMAD SHAHBAZ, FIRDZA ZULKARNAIN MOHADDEN, JEREMIAH SIA YIAO RONG, YAP JING WEI, JAYA SEELAN SATHIYA SEELAN

Published on 09/04/2026 — PHYTOTAXA

Shahbaz, M., Mohadden, F.Z., Rong, J.S.Y., Wei, Y.J. & Seelan, J.S.S. (2026) Taxonomy and phylogeny of Pleurocordyceps (Polycephalomycetaceae, Hypocreales) associated with ants and cicadas from Malaysia, including a new species and new records. Phytotaxa 750 (4): 219–237.

Abstract Pleurocordyceps is a group of hyperparasites that infects invertebrates, plants, and other fungi. It belongs to the family Polycephalomycetaceae, a newly established family separated from Ophiocordycipitaceae, order Hypocreales which includes several genera such as Dingleyomyces, Paradingleyomyces, Perennicordyceps, Pleurocordyceps, and Polycephalomyces. Pleurocordyceps currently comprises 26 species reported from South American and Asian regions In Asia, Malaysia has diverse forest...

DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.750.4.1

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