Ceramics from a Sabah Shipwreck
The ceramics from the Tanjung Simpang Mengayau Shipwreck off Sabah have been classified. The ship floundered during the northern Song dynasty(960-1127) off Kudat, Sabah. https://doi.org/10.26721/spafajournal.2l5br71rau
Weather and South Kalimatan
There have been significant changes in temperature over the past 40 years. The average temperature was 26.7ºC, average temperature increase of 1ºC and the highest maximum temperature was 38.8ºC, maximum temperature increase of 2-5ºC. https://doi.org/10.47172/2965-730X.SDGsReview.v5.n04.pe06136
New Book
Netscher’s Two Sieges of Malacca tells the story of the two sieges of Malacca by the Bugis from 1756-1757 and then again in 1784. Translated from the Dutch, the book relates Netscher’s(a Dutch historian) account of these two important times in Malay history.
New Species
Four new species of millipedes have been made known to science from Crocker Park and Mount Kinabalu in Sabah. European Journal of Taxonomy 987: 221–248 ISSN 2118-9773 https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2025.987.2871
Sundaic Giant Tortoises
Critically Endangered. Although found mostly in Sumatra, I thought this article of interest. We identified 40 plant species from 20 families, including ferns consumed by the tortoises. They consumed the fruits of 30 of these plants, swallowing seeds as large as those of Durio (Durian)and Artocarpus (breadfruit and Jackfruit) indicating potential seed dispersal over distances exceeding 1 km. Habitat preference showed a consistent preference for primary rainforests with steep slopes at moderate altitudes, and near rivers, mostly on the western side of the island. https://doi.org/10.1111/1749-4877.12965
Chestnuts
Chestnuts are plants of the Castanopsis genus, locally known as berangan, with 15 species found on Borneo. Chestnut can provide wood for furniture and building materials. The fruit is used medicinally, while the tannins-containing peel, is utilized as a natural colouring agent. Chestnut has seeds that are similar to the shape and taste of Castanea fruit. This chestnut has been widely cultivated and even traded in subtropical countries. doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1476/1/012068
Islam and Sabah
A history of Islam in Sabah is presented. The article includes the time period between 1400 and 1973. The findings reveal that Islam’s dissemination was primarily driven by maritime trade, diplomatic engagements with the Sultanates of Brunei and Sulu, and the role of converts (mualaf) as intermediaries between Islam and indigenous communities. DOI:10.6007/IJARBSS/v15-i3/24958
Long Nosed Horn Frog
This essay explains the differences among the same species depending on where they live. For example, there are physical differences between the frogs who live in protected(i.e. rain forest) vs non-protected (i.e. palm oil estates). A fascinating study. This research was conducted across Sarawak. doi.org/10.46754/jssm.2025.02.013
South China Sea Geology
I have no idea what this article is about. It has something to do with sea floor spreading. I am too old to start learning geology. Anyway, go to https://doi.org/10.3390/ geosciences15040152 if you are interested in the geology of the South China Sea.
Belait People
The Belait people are believed to be a mixture of Kelabit speakers and Lemeting or Meting speakers. The Lemeting people were originally native to the Tinjar River, a tributary of the Baram River in Sarawak, Malaysia. The Lemeting people then later migrated to the area of Belait and eventually integrated with the natives in the Belait district and Brunei itself. This chapter in the new book Transnational Southeast Asia discusses how the Belait adapted to the Brunei Malay language. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-96-3608-2_8
New Species
A new species of the night blooming Hoya biruensis from Kalimantan has been made known to science. doi.org/10.1002/njb.04787
Weather and Kalimantan
This study shows climate change has affected the distribution of rainfall intensity in some areas of east Kalimantan. It also shows the area with the maximum temperature (29 – 33C) will be increased in the future. doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1477/1/012045
New Book
Transnational Southeast Asia, edited by Hannah Ying Mit Toh. A compilation of articles including Illegal immigrants to the South Philippines, Filipino Bruneians, and Portuguese in Malacca is available from this free download. C:/Users/User/Downloads/978-981-96-3608-2.pdf
New Species
Two new species of freshwater crabs have been found in Sarawak. Journal of Teikyo Heisei University, Vol.24 No.1
New Species
A new orchid species, Gastrodia microchila is described and illustrated. The species was found in a mixed dipterocarp forest in the Belait district, Brunei Darussalam, northern Borneo in 2024. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.256.149020
Birds in Oil Palm Estates
A bird count and identification was carried out in oil palm estates in Bintulu and Miri Sarawak. Seventy-two different species were found among 2,621 birds sighted. Journal of Oil Palm Research Vol. 37 (1) March 2025 p. 44-52 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21894/jopr.2023.0061
Bornean Earless Monitor
Home range sizes averaged 500 +or-350 m. in a study from central Sarawak with the highest daily movement of 74 m. J. of Herpetology, 59(1):1-10 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1670/23-028
Seagrass
Seagrass meadows in Malaysia are experiencing a rapid and largely unnoticed decline, despite their critical ecological and economic importance. These underwater flowering plants provide essential services such as habitat for marine life, nursery grounds for fisheries, shoreline stabilization, water filtration, and carbon sequestration. Found along the coasts of Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak, Malaysia’s seagrass beds support endangered species like the dugong and green sea turtle and contribute to local livelihoods through nearshore fisheries. Urgent attention to these “vanishing meadows” is crucial to ensure biodiversity protection, fisheries sustainability, and resilience to climate change in the country’s coastal zones. doi: https://doi.org/10.69517/jars.2025.02.02.0001
Tom McLaughlin for BorneoHistory.net