Project Description

The Ekspedisi Biodiversitas Terestrial (e-BiTe) was a collaborative research initiative sponsored by BRIN and LPDP, dedicated to uncovering new species and biodiversity records within the landscapes of Betung-Kerihun and Danau Sentarum National Parks in West Kalimantan. Planned to take place from 2025 to 2027, the expedition brought together experts from various taxonomic disciplines. Our Program Director, Naufal Urfi Dhiya'ulhaq, participated in the June–July 2025 deployment, focusing on exploring the diversity of spiders.

Preliminary results revealed more than 180 spider species. The specimens are currently undergoing detailed identification, but many are expected to represent new species, along with new locality records for both Kalimantan and Indonesia. One particularly interesting group encountered was the giant huntsman spiders (Heteropoda spp.). Their large size makes them easy to spot, and they proved to be both abundant and diverse in the two national parks, with approximately 15 species recorded.

Picture copyright: BRIN

Area

Betung Kerihun & Danau Sentarum NP, Kalimantan

Type

Research Involvement