THREE researchers from Davao Oriental State University discovered a new species of long-horned beetle in the Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary.

Dr. Milton Norman Medina, Dr. Roy Ponce, and Jhonnel Villegas founded the Paraskeletodes hamiguitanesis.

It is a rare beetle that marks a significant addition to the global catalog of the Paraskeletodes genus, with only two species documented worldwide.

The paper has been published in the Baltic Journal of Coleopterology, a Scopus-indexed journal.

“The find underscores the exceptional biodiversity and universal value of Mt. Hamiguitan, further solidifying its status as a vital ecological and conservation hotspot,” DorSu said in a statement.

Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary is the sole UNESCO World Heritage Site in Mindanao, Philippines.