ABSCH Genetic Resources Information Center

A total of 54,428 Korean indigenous species identified, including a newly discovered species, Nannophya koreana

As of December 2020, a total of 54,428 species has been identified by NIBR scientists and listed in the Korean National Species List.  

Since 1996, NIBR has described new and unrecorded species in Korea through its “Korean National Species List Project”. 

The identified species include 2,028 vertebrates (including 125 mammals), 29,439 invertebrates (including 19,249 insects), 6,303 algae, 5,557 plants, 5,616 fungi and lichens, and 3,229 bacteria.    

This year, NIBR scientists discovered a new species of frog, Dryophytes flaviventris by carrying out acoustic monitoring and genetic analysis of Hyla suweonensis. During the study, the researchers found that the frog group inhabiting Iksan city and the southern part of Korea, have different frog sounds and genetic data from the ones inhabiting the other parts of the nation.

A newly discovered dragonfly, Nannophya koreana, was also described by NIBR scientists after using genetic analysis of Nannophya pygmaea (Odonata: Libellulidae) across the nation. The endangered dragonfly, Nannophya pygmaea, was once known to be the same species inhabiting Southeast Asia. However, the recent genetic analysis found that there are genetic differences between the species inhabiting Korea and Southeast Asia. NIBR researcher, therefore named the species as Nannophya koreana.  

The updated version of the Korean National Species List is now available at the NIBR websites (www.kbr.go.kr), (www.species.nibr.go.kr).

Yeon Jae Bae, president of NIBR said: “Since the Nagoya Protocol entered into force in 2014, countries have put their effort to collect national biological resources. With this backdrop, our National Species List has become fundamental data to secure sovereign right and sustainable use of our biological resources.”