Hi all and new people to my work. This column is about the latest information about Borneo taken from a wide variety of sources. You can find other such columns scattered through my website Borneohistory.net
All Creatures Great and Small #16
Soft Ticks
Soft Ticks (Acari:argasidae) are blood-sucking insects found mainly in bats. The most prevalent ticks are Carios, while it feeds on bats, especially the fruit bats (Pteropodidae) and evening bats and vesper bats(Vespertilionidae). The ticks do not carry any diseases dangerous to humans. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.106085
Malaria
There is a high incidence of Malaria caused by the plasmodium knowlesi. It is now the primary cause of Malaria in Malaysia, especially Borneo. P. Knowlesi can cause fatal infections in humans. https://doi.org/10.47665/tb.38.3.06
Mangrove Forests
A study of Mangrove forests in Pulau Bai-Pantai Panjang Natural Conservation Park (NCP), Bengkulu, revealed a low diversity of mangrove trees with only three mangrove species reported. https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/species-composition-diversity-biomass-mangroves/docview/2557554185/se-2?accountid=201395
Crabs
Two new species of crabs have been made known to the science world. They are from the Bako National Park and Lanjau -Entimau Preserve. 10.11646/ZOOTAXA.5016.3.6
Art in Borneo
This paper explores the birth of modern artwork in Borneo from 1945-1970. Covering the British colonial period, it shows how the colonial mindset influenced art and how artists had to break away from this concept. Akademika 91(2), Julai 2021: 49-57 (this article is in English)
Fairy Lanterns
These mystery plants live in the deep shade or are obscured by leaf litter. They are devoid of leaves and chlorophyll. Their carbon is obtained from the roots with an association with a fungus. They emerge above ground only occasionally. DOI: 10.1002/ppp3.10217
New Spiders
One or two (?) new species of spiders have been made known to the science world from Borneo. Taira borneoensis was named. doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5020.3.3
Denisovians
The Denisovians and a tribe in the Philippines got it together a long time ago as the tribe has the highest amount of Denisovian DNA. The Philippines seems to have hosted a large number of archaic humans before the arrival of modern humans. doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2021.0
New Book
The Languages and Linguistics of Mainland Southeast Asia edited by Paul Sidwell and Mathias Jenny is available from De Gruyter and Sons Mouton. It is priced at 289 Euros, an insane and ridiculous price.
Murder and Crocodiles
Crocodile attacks after a person is dead have been found in Sarawak. This was the case where an adult male was missing. He was found later with crocks feasting on his body, but several parts were missing. https://doi.org/10.1177/19253621211033472
New Species of Plant
A new species of plants have been made known to science. Research in Long Tuyo Lawas, Sarawak about the Fire Thorn plant revealed a small species (Hanguna deflexia) with “PacMan” looking seeds. doi: 10.3897/phytokeys.181.69045
Sharks and Rays
Many sharks and rays are threatened with extinction. The coastal market in Sarawak is conservatively estimated at 90,000 kg per year. Trade is dominated by immature coastal sharks and rays, with overfishing paramount. The people should act in not purchasing shark-related products like Sharks Fin soup. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3688
Stingless Bees and Profits
The Sarawak area shows only a breakeven point in investments with stingless bee production. The study shows the government and beekeepers should focus on the massive production of stingless bee production in Sarawak. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3688
Migratory Birds
The Buntal-Bako (Sarawak) area has shown a significant increase in migratory birds resting in the area. The additions include the Great Knot, Far Eastern Curflew, Nordmann’s Greenshank and Chinese Egret, all threatened species. The paper states they are unsure of the reasons behind the marked increase but suggest the decline of quality of habitat elsewhere in Borneo. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3688
Cretaceous Kuching
If you are interested in a paper about the geology of Kuching see https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2021.106425 Also, another paper disputes the ages of rocks in Kuching. DOI : https://doi.org/10.7186/wg472202104
Bent Toed Gecko
A Bent Toed Gecko has been made known to science. The specimen was collected a Tawau.
DOI: 10.11646/ZOOTAXA.5026.2.8
Pilgrims to Mecca from Brunei
A history of pilgrimage to Mecca by the Brunei people from 1906-1954 is the topic of this paper. Journal of Maritime Studies and National Integration 5(1)2021 1-13
Parasites and Birds
There is no difference in the number of parasites acquired by birds in logged vs unlogged forests. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2021.07.003
Proboscis Monkeys
A river study of Proboscis Monkeys in east Kalimatan has revealed a decline in population. The major culprits are illegal hunting, habitat conversion, forest fires and invasive plant species. https://doi.org/10.1051/bioconf/20213301004
Fungi in Sarawak
Scientists are starting to work on a collection of fungi that dates back to 1954. The fungarium is located at the Sarawak Forestry Department. It has not been used because the specimens have not been entered into the electronic database. hTTP://HEDL.HANDEL.NET2433/2227121
Changes in Bearded Pig Hunting
With the coming of oil palm estates, the hunting of the bearded pig has changed. This change involves less waiting time for pigs to forage on oil palm fruits at predictable locations and Bearded Pigs can be seen much easier. It is also less tiring. However, with the coming of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium knowlesi as a harmful agent to man and African Swine Fever attacking the pigs, there should be a major reduction of Bearded pig meat. DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10250,
Three New Species of Plants
Three new species of plant have been described for science from the Seri Aman district of Sarawak. This herb is from the clade Schismatoglottis. According to my wife and her auntie, the Malay name is Keladi and is used to heal cuts abrasions. Journal of Plant Taxonomy and Geography 76 (2) I have a copy if you need it.
The Pelian Ritual of the Iban
The Pelian ritual is a separation between the living and the dead among the animists of the Iban community. The objectives are to stop nightmares, heal the patient, separate the dead and living humans, and initiate new shamans into the rituals of the ceremony. The research was carried out in the Sebuah District near Bintulu. Turkish Online Journal of Qualitative Inquiry vol 12 issue 5, July 2021 3859-68
The Bunga Terung Tatoo
The Bunga Terung Tatoo is worn by Iban men who have attained puberty. In Sarawak, the “fishhook” is obtained first during pre-puberty, followed by the neck tattoo and then others down the legs and arms. The eggplant flower(Bunga Terung) signifies the passage into adulthood. IJASOS- International E-Journal of Advances in Social Sciences, Vol. VII, Issue 20, August 2021
Wildfires in Borneo
An analysis of charcoal in the peat during the past 6,000 years informs dry conditions during the high solar activity. The article suggests that the climate was drier and not wetter during this period. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL093832
Our book, The history of the Sarawak River Valley, is available on Amazon.com