National Museum: Weevil species found in PH subject of new study

The National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) says two weevil species discovered in the Philippines in 1947 and 1985 have been thoroughly described in a new study. Photo from the Official website of the National Museum of the Philippines / nationalmuseum.gov.ph

MANILA, Philippines — Two weevil species discovered in the Philippines in 1947 and 1985 have been thoroughly described in a new study, the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) said.

“Collections such as these are essential in elucidating the rightful places of organisms we share the planet with,” the NMP stressed, noting that the in-depth research on Eumacrocyrtus robertfoxi and Enoplocyrtus angelalcalai was published in the zoological journal ZooKeys on February 6.

In a Facebook post on Monday, the NMP said the two species are currently cataloged in the Philippine Zoological Reference Collection, which is the museum’s resource for zoological scientists.

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The first species described in the study is Eumacrocyrtus robertfoxi, which was first found in Zambales in 1947. It was named after famed Philippine anthropologist Robert Fox, who also discovered the Tabon Man in Palawan.

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The second species is Enoplocyrtus angelalcalai, which is found in Bontoc, Mountain Province in 1985. It was named after former Environment and Natural Resources Secretary and National Scientist Angel Alcala whose works were dedicated to ecology and marine biology.

According to the NMP, researchers Analyn Cabras, Perry Buenavente, and Milton Medina are involved in the study. The researchers are affiliated with the NMP and the Davao Oriental State University.