Luzon Island Research Articles

Two new endemic species of blueberry (Vaccinium L., Ericaceae) from Luzon and Mindanao islands, Philippines

Two new species of Vaccinium from the Philippines are described and illustrated from historical herbarium collections. Vaccinium burburan from Luzon Island, Northern Philippines is morphologically similar to V. tenuipes, but is distinguished by having shorter petioles, pedicels and corolla, adaxially pubescent leaf blades with cordate base, apically pubescent corollas, and pubescent filaments throughout. It is only one of two species of Vaccinium in the Philippines known to have a cordate leaf blade base. Vaccinium burburan is considered critically endangered. Vaccinium jubatum from Mindanao Island, Southern Philippines, is morphologically similar to V. sylvaticum, but is distinguished by having a dentate leaf blade margin, shorter inflorescences and pedicels, a glabrous calyx, and shorter filaments. The dentate leaf blade margin of V. jubatum uniquely distinguishes it from other Philippine Vaccinium species. The conservation status of V. jubatum is considered data deficient. These discoveries further increase the current number of known Vaccinium species in the Philippines to 40.

Cancer clinical trials in the Philippines.

In this Commentary, we discuss disparities in resources for and access to cancer trials from the perspective of the Philippines, a lower-middle-income country in Southeast Asia, where cancer is the fourth leading cause of death. Geographic disparities play out such that academic institutions and clinical trials are centralized in the island of Luzon, particularly in the capital, Manila. These disparities are compounded by the lack of comprehensive cancer patient and clinical trial registries in the Philippines. Additionally, sociocultural considerations influence clinical trial implementation. Providers must consider the role of a patient's family in the decision to participate in clinical trials; a patient's degree of health literacy; and the economic burden of cancer care, with attention to both the direct and indirect financial toxicities associated with cancer care. Our call to action is threefold. (1) Bolster locally led trials and encourage international collaboration to improve diversity in trial participation and trials' generalizability. (2) Strengthen national trial registries to improve awareness of trials for which patients are eligible. (3) Integrate cultural competency frameworks that move beyond parachutism and parasitism in research and instead promote trust, reciprocity, and collaboration. These challenges may yet evolve, but in emphasizing these barriers, we hope to kindle further dialogue, new insights, and innovative action towards solving these disparities in cancer research, not just in the Philippines, but also in other low- and middle-income countries.

A rapid survey of myxomycetes associated with different substrata in Luzon Island, Philippines

A rapid survey of myxomycetes associated with different substrata in Luzon Island, Philippines

Occurrence and Distribution of Philippine Warty Pig (Sus philippensis Nehring, 1886) in Mt. Banahaw de Tayabas, Luzon Island, Philippines

This study determined the occurrence and distribution of Philippine warty pig (Sus philippensis) in Mt. Banahaw de Tayabas using camera trapping and indirect signs. The Philippine warty pig is an endemic species of wild pig in the Philippines and is currently listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List because of the presence of several threats such as hunting, habitat fragmentation, and the current outbreak of African swine fever (ASF). Camera trap stations were established with 10 camera traps functioning 24 h for 17 d along different elevations. Different species distribution models (BIOCLIM, DOMAIN, and MAXENT) were constructed using 19 bioclimatic predictors to determine the potential distribution of the species in Mt. Banahaw. Results from three different SDMs suggested that Philippine warty pigs prefer to occupy secondary growth forests, as a high probability of occurrence was observed within 600–800 m above sea level (masl). Models also predicted that Philippine warty pigs occupy large portions of Mt. Banahaw de Tayabas, although sparsely in the extreme southern and northern sections of the mountain. The most reliable model that predicted the distribution of the species was MAXENT, as it acquired the highest area under curve (AUC) among the three SDMs. This study confirmed the presence of Philippine warty pigs in Mt. Banahaw de Tayabas and its preferred habitat. The data and information generated here will be useful for the local community’s plans in conserving and managing this endemic species. Additional recommendations also include investigating the population size within and outside the protected area and establishing baseline data to assess the impact of ASF.

Checklist of Reported Macrofungi in the Philippines

The Philippines is known for its ecological diversity due to its climatic condition and geographical location. However, despite having a wide range of organisms, the macrofungal species in the country remain poorly documented. Recent mycological research in the tropics states that more species have yet to be discovered in the Philippines. Despite this, a mycological study still focuses on the ethnomycological survey and species listing. In this study, a survey of publications in macrofungi from 1906 to the present revealed that the Philippines have currently 376 validated species names of macrofungi classified under 66 families and 130 genera. Macrofungal species reported in the country belong to class Ascomycota and Basidiomycota with high species diversity under family Agaricaceae, Lycoperdaceae, Marasmiaceae, and Polyporaceae. Most studies were published internationally and were concentrated in Luzon Island, Philippines. Looking into these, we suggest a biodiversity analysis of macrofungi in other regions of the country. A shift into applying molecular systematics and biotechnology would further develop Philippine macrofungal research, given that the historical trend has focused on morphological identification and classification. We hope that this paper will be a call to further fill the gaps in what is known about the macrofungi in the Philippines, given the country’s potential for further discoveries.

Identification of aquatic consumer trophic pathways in four volcanic tropical lakes using fatty acid biomarkers

Food web studies rely heavily on the use of traditional gut content analysis or the fairly popular stable isotope analysis rather than fatty acid analysis (FAA) despite its straightforward process, and ability to identify and characterize more diverse trophic pathways. In this study, we employed fatty acid (FA) biomarkers as a preliminary attempt to trace and characterize trophic pathways in food webs of four tropical lakes of volcanic origin in Luzon Island, Philippines - three clustered maar lakes (Yambo, Pandin and Calibato) and a large caldera lake (Taal). These lakes have a long history of human disturbance but limited ecological data. Knowledge of basal food sources and existing trophic dynamics of organisms are generally non-existent. Particulate organic matter (POM), zooplankton, and fish species were collected in August 2019 from the study lakes as representative of three trophic guilds. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) and principal component analysis (PCA) were conducted to analyse FA profiles and characterize trophic relationships between representative organisms. For the POM, within lakes comparison of taxon-specific FA profiles showed a significant difference between the surface and near bottom depths, with the former dominated by photoautorophs and the latter by chemotrophs, suggesting the ability of FAA to effectively delineate between micro-organisms. Between lakes comparison also showed significant difference between the caldera and maar lakes, with the latter containing higher composition of bacterial FA, reminiscent of the considerably smaller lakes’ response to the impact of unmitigated organic loadings from anthropogenic activities. Taken together with the primary consumers’ FA profiles, analysis confirmed the ability of FAA to discriminate between FA profile sources. PCA explained >70% of the variance in the FA compositions for three trophic guilds in the two deepest lakes, which delineated both zooplankton and fish species food selectivity in each lake, alluding to FAA’s capacity to characterize dietary reliance of various species in an environment with numerous food sources. Although certain limitations were encountered, such as the specificity of the sampling depths for POM, and the small sample size of the representative species of the third trophic level, this study demonstrated the effectiveness of FAA as a powerful ecological tool for disentangling intricate lake food webs comprising various food sources. Overall, this study provided baseline information on basal food sources and trophic pathways of representative organisms from four tropical lakes. Taken together, FAA studies have wide application in understanding food webs, including anthropogenically-threatened lake ecosystems.

Characteristics and Formation of the Luzon Undercurrent in the Western North Pacific: Observational Study

AbstractThe subsurface circulation system in the western North Pacific is dominated by the convergence of the Luzon Undercurrent (LUC) and the Mindanao Undercurrent, which forms the basin‐scale eastward North Equatorial Undercurrent jets. The southward LUC, situated to the east of Luzon Island, plays a significant role in transporting subsurface waters equatorward in the western boundary of the subtropical North Pacific. Despite its crucial contributions to the water, heat, and energy distributions in the subsurface layer, its characteristics and formation mechanism remain unclear. In this study, we utilize monthly climatological temperature and salinity data and the derived geostrophic velocity to investigate the spatiotemporal variability of the LUC and its formation dynamics. The LUC transport exhibits weak seasonality and strong intra‐seasonal variation, peaking in May/June and October. The origin of the LUC is closely connected with the southward veering of the Deep North Equatorial Current (DNEC) off the Ryukyu Islands and the Luzon Strait middle‐layer outflow (LSMO). The DNEC dominates transport in the LUC, and the LSMO of the South China Sea (SCS) Intermediate Water contributes to the water mixing in the LUC. Locally, the appearance of the LUC is dynamically linked with the barotropic effect associated with the sea surface height gradient and the baroclinic effect raised from the downward tilting of the zonal isopycnal off the Philippine coast. Spatially, the core of the LUC shifts from in‐shore to off‐shore waters from May/June to October. This study reveals the spatiotemporal characteristics of the LUC and identifies its separate origins from the interior North Pacific and the SCS middle layer.

First Record of the Goby Lentipes armatus Sakai and Nakamura, 1979 (Teleostei: Gobiidae) in the Amburayan River in Benguet, Luzon Island, Philippines

A species of goby, Lentipes armatus Sakai and Nakamura 1979, described as endemic to the Ryukyu Islands in Japan was recently discovered in the Amburayan River in Benguet, Luzon Island, Philippines. Lentipes armatus has been identified based on photographic and actual specimens from landed catch surveys in Atok, Kapangan, and Kibungan in the Province of Benguet. Morphological features, morphometric characters, and meristic counts of the collected specimens of the local population match those reported in the Ryukyu Islands in Japan. Moreover, genetic studies of the species confirmed its identification as L. armatus. Samples for the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) analysis and identification of this species were collected from the Amburayan River traversing the Municipalities of Atok, Kapangan, and Kibungan in the Province of Benguet. Therefore, the specimen described herein constitutes the first record of the species in the Cordillera. Furthermore, the occurrence of the L. armatus in the Amburayan River in the Cordillera, northern part of the Philippines, suggests its possible range expansion. The first record of the L. armatus in the Philippines was reported from the Taguibao River upstream of Sitio Bongodman (proper), in the east end of Ancicala, Province of Agusan del Norte, Mindanao Island. With this, it may also propose that the L. armatus is an indigenous fish species in the country, particularly thriving in the Amburayan River, Benguet and Taguibao River, Agusan del Norte, Philippines.

Rare or Simply Overlooked? New Records of Pediacus ater Grouvelle, 1897 from the Philippines, with Notes on Phenology and Diversity of its Flat Bark Beetle Fauna (Coleoptera: Cucujidae)

The flat bark beetle (Coleoptera: Cucujidae) fauna of the Philippines consists of two species of Pediacus Shuckard, 1839: Pediacus ater Grouvelle, 1897 and Pediacus australis Marris and Ślipiński, 2004. Very few literature data records exist, showing P. ater recorded from two specimens from one locality on Mindanao Island, and P. australis known from a single specimen on Luzon Island. New distributional data for P. ater in the Philippines are provided, including the first records from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Lanao del Sur Province), Soccsksargen Region (South Cotabato Province), and Central Visayas Region (Negros Oriental Province). These records show a much wider distribution for P. ater than was previously known and indicate that the species is widely distributed, at least in central and southern regions of the Philippines. Phenological activity of the species is discussed for the first time. A map with locality records for both cucujid species from the Philippines is given as well as morphological diagnostic information to discriminate the species.

Obsidian and mafic volcanic glasses from the Philippines and Vietnam found in the Paris Museum Australasian tektite collection

AbstractDuring the systematic magnetic susceptibility survey of the Paris Museum Australasian tektite collection, we identified three previously overlooked occurrences of volcanic glass that resembles tektites, based on anomalous magnetic properties, high water content, the presence of microcrystals, and anomalous chemical composition. These occurrences are from the Phu Yen province in south‐central Vietnam (two rhyolitic glass fragments) and from the Philippines: one from northern Luzon Island (a basaltic rounded etched glass), one from Santa Mesa near Manilla (a dozen small rounded rhyolitic gravels). The two occurrences in the Philippines are quite similar to previously described volcanic glasses from the nearby Pagudpod and Nagcarlan localities, respectively. The rhyolitic glass specimens from the Phu Yen province are the first documentation of a geological occurrence of obsidian in Vietnam. This work is a warning note that glass samples with anomalous properties found among tektite collections may correspond to volcanic pseudotektites instead of real tektites with anomalous composition. The basaltic glass sample from the Philippines locally shows microcrystalline quench textures previously unknown in natural samples. These findings may also be of interest for archeologists involved in glass artifacts sourcing.

The Philippines' snapshot situation of pregnancy-related and child feeding practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BackgroundMaternal, infant and young child health and nutrition are affected during the COVID-19 pandemic.AimThis study aimed to present the snapshot situation of maternal health practices of pregnant women including infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices of children under two during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA rapid nutrition assessment survey (RNAS) was conducted through phone interview in nine selected areas from November 3 to December 3, 2020. A multi-stage sampling design was employed in the selection of areas with low, medium, and high risk categories across the islands of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao in the Philippines. A total of 792 mother-child pairs, and 148 pregnant women were covered.ResultsMajority (84.5%) of pregnant women availed pre-natal check-ups, 82.4% of them had micronutrient supplements, of which 20.5% took IFA tablets. Almost 60.0% of children under two were currently breastfed during the pandemic, with 60.8% of infants less than 6 months receiving breastmilk exclusively. Appropriate complementary feeding practices based on this study were not drastically affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, access to pregnancy-related information, along with breastfeeding and complementary feeding messages and advice were disrupted during the community lockdown.ConclusionAlthough maternal and child feeding practices were unchanged, innovative delivery of community health and nutrition services such as tele-visits by midwives, and community health workers are some of the ways to move forward in improving the health and nutrition of women and children in the wake of the pandemic and during subsequent waves.

Diurnal to Intraseasonal Precipitation Variation Around the Northwestern Coast of Luzon Island: Results From YMC‐BSM 2018 Field Campaign

AbstractThis study investigates multiscale variability of summer‐time precipitation around the northwestern coast of Luzon Island, the Philippines, by analyzing in situ observation data of a field campaign in summer 2018 conducted under the Years of the Maritime Continent‐Boreal Summer Monsoon study in 2018 (YMC‐BSM 2018) project. It is found that boreal summer intraseasonal oscillation modulates activity of precipitation diurnal cycle, with active diurnal cycle observed only under easterly (offshore) wind conditions in the free troposphere. On the other hand, in the period of westerly winds, quasi‐biweekly fluctuation is observed, with two heavy precipitation events. These events are associated with further intensified westerly winds caused by westward‐propagating quasi‐biweekly oscillations. Day‐to‐day precipitation variability over land during the two events is associated with the strength of monsoon winds blowing toward the mountain range, which is modulated cooperatively by the quasi‐biweekly oscillations and tropical depressions over the South China Sea.

Terrigenous and volcanogenic contribution to the deep basin of the South China Sea: Evidence from trace elements and Sr-Nd isotopes

The deep basin of the South China Sea (SCS) receives terrigenous materials from the surrounding continents and islands, making it an ideal region for studies on source-to-sink transport. The analysis of grain size, major and trace elements, and Sr-Nd isotopes of 130 surface sediment samples throughout the SCS deep basin has been performed for identifying the contribution of terrigenous and volcanic materials. Based on the analysis results, the SCS deep basin can be divided into three geographic areas with different provenances: the northern area of the East Subbasin (NES), the southern region of the East Subbasin (SES), and the Southwest Subbasin (SWS). The predominant provenances of sediments in the NES and SWS are Taiwan rivers and Mekong River, respectively. Sediments from the SES exhibit higher mean grain size, less radiogenic 87Sr/86Sr, and more radiogenic 143Nd/144Nd than those from the NES and SWS. Pinatubo ash input from the Luzon Island may be a predominant source in the SES. The contribution of Pinatubo ash decreased westward from 80% to 20% in the SES. The supply of Pinatubo ash could be considered insignificant to the NES and SWS. Sediments from Taiwan rivers or Mekong River were the subordinate source in the SES. The deep-water current and mesoscale eddies may play a role in transporting terrigenous materials into the SCS deep basin as well as the turbidity current.

Synchronized decadal variabilities in the Kuroshio and Kuroshio Extension system

Using satellite altimetry and wind stress data, the spatially coherent decadal variabilities in current intensity and current path during 1993–2018 were investigated for a western boundary current system, namely, the Kuroshio from the east of Luzon Island to the south of Japan and the Kuroshio Extension (KE). Analyses based on Hovmöller diagrams showing decadal variabilities along the entire current demonstrated three types of synchronic relationship between different regions: 1) an out-of-phase relationship in current intensity between the Kuroshio south of Japan and the KE during 1993–2018; 2) an out-of-phase relationship in current intensity between the Kuroshio from the east of Taiwan (ETW) to the East China Sea (ECS) and the KE during 2006–2014; 3) an out-of-phase relationship in current position between the Kuroshio paths in the ETW to ECS and the Luzon Strait during 1993–2018. These patterns were dynamically regulated by the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). The synchronized current-intensity variability in 2006–2014, which governed almost the entire current system, was caused by coherent phenomena comprising two kinds of baroclinic Rossby wave propagations along the KE and the subtropical countercurrent (STCC), and a regional sea surface height (SSH) anomaly advection from the South China Sea (SCS) to the ECS via the Taiwan Strait. However, the synchronized current-path variability between 1993 and 2018 was caused by an SSH anomaly migration advected by the Kuroshio from the western North Equatorial Current zone to the ECS and an SSH variability localized in the SCS.In this study, we paid particular attention to that the current intensity of the Kuroshio in the ETW to ECS had a positive no-lag correlation with the SSH-based PDO index in 1996–2005 while a positive 3–4 years lag correlation with that index during 2006–2014. It was emphasized that this transition was due to the following mechanism: the current-intensity variability in 1996–2005 was mainly caused by the variability of the eddy activity in the western STCC zone, while that variability in 2006–2014 was mainly caused by the amplification of baroclinic Rossby waves propagating along the STCC zone; the shift from the former to the latter was generated by a rapid phase shift with a relatively large amplitude for the wind stress curl anomaly and a timescale change of the eddy kinetic energy over the STCC zone around 2006.

Bioclimatic modeling for the prediction of the suitable regional geographical distribution of selected bright-spored myxomycetes in the Philippine archipelago

Abstract. Limbo-Dizon JE, Almadrones-Reyes KJ, Macabago SAB, Dagamac NHA. 2022. Bioclimatic modeling for the prediction of the suitable regional geographical distribution of selected bright-spored myxomycetes in the Philippine archipelago. Biodiversitas 23: 2285-2294. Myxomycetes communities in the Philippines have been well studied in terms of diversity patterns projected by their enigmatic fructifications. To predict potential suitable geographical distributions of three different bright-spored myxomycetes with known variations in its occurrences, namely, Arcyria cinerea, Perichaena depressa, and Hemitrichia serpula, species distribution modeling was utilized. Three different modeling approaches employing MaxEnt were performed in this study and have calculated high model performances based on the AUC values generated (0.778-0.873). In all of the modeling approaches, the three myxomycetes species were predicted to have an expansion of their localized fundamental niches pointing to the influence of isothermality (BIO3) as an important macroclimatic predictor for modeling approaches 1 and 2. Highly suitable habitats for the three bright-spored species were discovered primarily in terrestrial landscapes on the regions of Luzon Island, as well as in small parts of the Visayas and Mindanao Islands. The predicted models in this study do not tell missing geographical information but rather may use as tools for the exploration of potentialities, such as understanding the possible distribution patterns of the three bright-spored myxomycetes species in the Philippines. This can serve as a useful baseline to enhance the conservation efforts for most habitats in the country that are directly affecting microbial communities due to rampant habitat loss and rapid urbanization.

Submarine Landslides in the West Continental Slope of the South China Sea and Their Tsunamigenic Potential

The 109 meridian fault is located in the west of the South China Sea (SCS) connecting to the offshore Red River Shear Zone. Seismic data from the central Vietnamese shelf indicates that many submarine landslides were developed along the steep continental slope in this offshore region. Here, we analyze the potential for such landslides to trigger damaging tsunamis based on the local geological background and sedimentary environment. We assess their tsunamigenic potential along the coast of Southern Central Vietnam (SCV). We point out that the evolutionary processes of the 109° meridian fault: striking-subsidence of the adjacent basin, combined with the high sediment input from numerous montane rivers of the hinterland generate conditions that likely favor the development of submarine landslides along the well-defined and steep continental slope near SCV. To estimate the impact of tsunami waves on the SCV coastline, we conducted a pilot study using two numerical models: NHWAVE and FUNWAVE-TVD to model 4 representative landslides with volumes ranging between 1.3 and 14 km3 and water depth of 300–1000 m. The submarine landslides were treated as rigid slump and deformable slide corresponding to two different sedimentary environments. Our results show that the tsunami waves generated by rigid slump can reach up to 20 m height in the landslide source area and ∼5 m when arriving at the closest coastline. Tsunami waves could arrive at the central Vietnam coast within 30 min in eight scenarios. Our initial results also suggest that seafloor topography, i.e., waveguide effects of ocean ridges, shelf resonance and the potential bay resonance cause significant variability in potential run-up. We note that ocean ridges located in the deep basin of the SCS focus the tsunami energy propagating towards the northwest coast of Luzon Island, Philippines where tsunami wave heights of ∼2.3 m wave height are modeled. These findings underscore the importance of tsunami hazard assessments that account for both earthquake generated and earthquake triggered tsunamis. Our work also highlights a continued need to examine tsunami sources in the region as mitigation and preparedness for the socio-economically important and heavily populated coastlines of the SCS is reliant on a detailed understanding of the hazard.

Island Stories: Mapping the (im)mobility trends of slow onset environmental processes in three island groups of the Philippines

There is an immediate lack of people-centred empirical evidence investigating how slow onset events influence human (im)mobility across the globe. This represents an important knowledge gap that makes it difficult for climate policy to safeguard vulnerable populations (whether on the move or left behind). In this study, 48 qualitative focus group discussions in the Philippines elaborated around people’s (im)mobility pathways in the context of slow onset events. The selected collective storytelling approach effectively mapped out the (im)mobility trends of 12 different origin- and destination locations involving the perceptions of 414 women and men across six provinces on Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao islands. The research findings delicately outlined people’s translocality and its interlinkage with their personal (im)mobility experiences. People described how slow onset events such as longer-term soil and water degradation often contributed to reduced livelihood sustainability that influenced their decisions to move or stay. At the very core of people’s narratives were the ways that the environmental changes and (im)mobility experiences influenced people’s wellbeing. Some people described how temporary migration could increase their social status and boost wellbeing after returning home. Others described adverse impacts on their mental health during their migration experiences due to loss of place, identity, food, and social networks. The research findings show how policy can better support those moving, hosting, or identifying as immobile, as well as where (geographically and socially) more assistance is needed.

Nutritional and physical requirements for mycelial growth and fruiting body production of six strains of Pleurotus djamor from Luzon Island, Philippines

Nutritional and physical requirements for mycelial growth and fruiting body production of six strains of Pleurotus djamor from Luzon Island, Philippines

Structure and Variability of the Kuroshio and Luzon Undercurrent Observed by a Mooring Array

AbstractThe spatial structure and variability of the western boundary currents east of Luzon Island at 18°N are investigated using measurements collected by acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCPs) from three moorings between January 2018 and May 2020. During the observation period, the southward velocity of Luzon Undercurrent (LUC) has a maximum greater than 0.04 m at about 800 m on average and instantaneously reaches a maximum speed of about 0.47 m . Observations indicate that the LUC and Kuroshio have significant intraseasonal variability and the LUC is reversed occasionally. We find that the strong upper‐layer anticyclonic eddy plays a key role in the weakening and reversal of LUC and that the LUC is a permanent mean undercurrent. A vertical mode decomposition analysis is employed and results show that the first two baroclinic modes explain the main vertical features of the LUC and Kuroshio at its origin. No reversal of the southward undercurrent occurs in the second baroclinic mode velocity. We conclude that the LUC variability is generally a result of the second baroclinic mode but the observed reversal of the LUC is mainly caused by the first mode.

A new jewel from the crown jewel of the South – Lake Holon: Eupyrgops almae sp. nov. (Cagas, C.L.A. &Mohagan, D.P., 2023) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Celeuthitini) from Mt. Melibengoy, Sitio Salacafe, T’boli, South Cotabato, Mindanao, Philippines

A new species of weevil under the genus Eupyrgops (Berg, 1898) of the family Curculionidae is discovered on the Salacafe Trail going to Lake Holon, Mt. Melibengoy, T’boli, South Cotabato, Philippines. The genus Eupyrgops is poorly known in the Philippines. There are only 11 species recorded. However, these species were only recorded on Luzon Island. Thus, making this new species a new and lone record in Mindanao, would update the list to 12 species. The new species was collected in an opportunistic manner last May 16-18, 2022. The new species Eupyrgops almae sp. nov. has a resemblance with Eupyrgops mitorajii (Alessandro Bramanti, Andrea Bramanti and Rukmane Barbale, 2020) from Luzon. This single (female holotype) specimen was deposited at the zoology section of the CMU – University Museum as a repository of the vertebrate and invertebrate fauna of Mindanao.