Two Centuries of Singapore's Biodiversity History
Take a virtual stroll through ‘200: A Natural History’ exhibition
Tap to explore
200: A Natural History
In celebration of Singapore’s Bicentennial in 2020, LKCNHM showcased 200 stories from the island’s natural history, revealing how animals, plants, events and people have shaped the nation’s rich natural heritage.
Tap to explore
Years 1819–1826
Neptune's Cup (Cliona patera) (2019-03-06) by Heok Hui TanLee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
Singapore's 'First' Animal
The first organism from Singapore that was scientifically named is the Neptune's cup sponge (Cliona patera) which was first exhibited in 1819.
Due to its impressive appearance and overharvesting, it disappeared from Singapore waters and was only rediscovered in 2011.
Dugong (Dugong dugon) (2019-03-28) by Heok Hui TanLee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
Researching and Eating Dugong
While in Singapore in 1819, Stamford Raffles and his group of naturalists captured several dugongs for scientific research. The next year, Raffles described one of these animals and even included a comment that its flesh "proved to be most excellent beef".
Tap to explore
Years 1827–1852
Singapore Fern (Tectaria singaporiana) (2019-03-28) by Heok Hui TanLee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
Singapore's First Fern
Botanists Nathaniel Wallich and surgeon John Crawfurd first collected this fern species in 1822 on Pulau Pawai. It was later described in 1827 as Aspidium singaporianum (now Tectaria singaporiana), making it one of the first plants to be scientifically named from Singapore.
Tap to explore
Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) (2019-03-06) by Heok Hui TanLee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
Unfriendly Buffaloes?
Henry Keppel was a British naval officer who visited Singapore in 1848 and found water buffaloes in widespread use for pulling heavy loads. He also found them to be very attached to their local handlers, but very unfriendly towards Europeans.
Singapore's Role in Telegraphy
In 1851, Europe and America were connected by undersea telegraph cables. This was made possible because a British doctor sent samples of tree latex called gutta percha from Singapore. This latex turned out to be an excellent insulator even at low deep-ocean temperatures.
Tap to explore
Years 1853–1887
Red Berry Snail (Optediceros breviculum) (2019-03-07) by Heok Hui TanLee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
Red Berry Snails in a Creek
Eduard von Martens was a German naturalist on expedition aboard the ship 'Thetis', which reached Singapore in 1862. It was here where von Martens collected a new species of little red snail from a small stream near St Andrew's Cathedral.
Tap to explore
Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) (2019-03-28) by Heok Hui TanLee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
Encounters with Crocodiles
In 1886, a Malay woman was killed by a crocodile while collecting shells along the Punggol River. Between 1842 and 2017, 41 other attacks were recorded in Singapore. Such encounters grew more common as developments fragmented habitats and pushed wildlife into residential areas.
Raffles Library and Museum (1925)Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
Opening of the Raffles Library and Museum
The doors to the Raffles Library and Museum officially opened on 12 October 1887 to house the growing library and collections in zoology, botany, geology, ethnology and mineralogy. For over eight decades, it stood as a hub for the study of natural history in Singapore.
Tap to explore
Years 1888–1915
Holthuija miersii (2023) by SIGNIFY, Lee Kong Chian Natural History MuseumLee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
Archer's Shells and Crabs
In 1895, two new species of marine snails from Singapore were recognised for the first time: Acteocina capitata and Acteocina singaporensis. Their collector, an army doctor named Samuel Archer, also collected new species of crabs which the Museum’s SIGNIFY project has digitsed.
Tap to explore
Banded Bullfrog (Kaloula pulchra) (2019-02-28) by Heok Hui TanLee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
The Noisy Banded Bullfrog
The Banded Bullfrog, known for its chubby appearance, is an invasive species in Singapore.
It was first recorded in 1896 by Stanley S. Flower, who noted that the introduced frog had quickly spread across the island and was "detested for the noise it makes at night".
Rubber seeds and capsules (2019-03-07) by Heok Hui TanLee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
Singapore's First Rubber Estate
In 1907, the first rubber estate in Singapore was established when Tan Kah Kee planted rubber seeds at his pineapple plantation in Sembawang. The seeds came from Tan Chay Yan who had already started the first rubber estate in Malaya (now Malaysia) in 1895.
Tap to explore
Years 1916–1934
Round Whipray (Maculabatis pastinacoides) (2019-03-07) by Heok Hui TanLee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
Casting Sharks and Rays
This papier-mâché cast of a round whipray may have been made in 1914 by Valentine Knight and Percy Mortimer de Fontaine who were Assistant Curator and Taxidermist, respectively, at the Raffles Museum.
Moulton's Moth (2019-04-15) by Ruzaini GhazaliLee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
Moth Hunting in Singapore
John Moulton was director of the Raffles Museum until 1923. On his first night in Singapore, he and his friend (a senior religious leader no less!) climbed lamp posts in search of moths. They were even caught in the act by a policeman.
This moth is one of Moulton's specimens.
Tap to explore
Pygmy Spiny-tailed Skink (Egernia depressa) (2019-02-28) by Heok Hui TanLee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
Alien skink
In April 1925, the pygmy spiny-tailed skink was reported in Singapore for the first time. This species is only found in Australia and likely entered Singapore through sandalwood imports, as some of the specimens were found in the Tanjong Pagar dock area.
Mola sp. (1934) by Michael W. F. TweedieLee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
A Lost Sunfish
This photograph of a sharptail mola and its nameplate are all that remain of a specimen caught near a kelong in 1932 before being donated to the Raffles Museum. The species is rarely seen in Singapore, making it a valuable and rare record.
Tap to explore
Years 1935–1964
King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) (2019-04-26) by Ruzaini GhazaliLee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
A Massive King Cobra Arrives
On 10 July 1950, this king cobra was brought to the Raffles Museum alive! It took three men to capture the 4.7-metre snake found at the Singapore Island Country Club. The specimen was preserved, but its head that was stored separately has since gone missing.
Goldband Fusilier (Pterocaesio chrysozona) (2019-04-30) by Ruzaini GhazaliLee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
Manihine Fisheries Surveys
In 1956, research work on the fisheries research ship 'Manihine' came to an end. This vessel was used to make extensive collections of marine fishes and invertebrates in and around Singapore waters.
Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) (1964) by John L. HarrisonLee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
A Whale Shark in Singapore Waters
Singapore recorded its first ever whale shark sighting when one was found traped at a kelong off Pulau Sebarok in 1964. Despite its docile nature, the 6-metre long fish was shot by marine police, who feared it posed a danger to the public.
Tap to explore
Years 1965–2019
Chengal Pasir (Hopea sangal) (2015-04-15) by Jeremy W. L. YeoLee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
Protecting Our Trees
The chengal pasir tree was thought to be extinct in Singapore until a specimen was rediscovered in Changi in 2002. Sadly, it was cut down by a property developer. The developer received a heavy fine, part of the legal protection for trees under the Parks and Trees Act of 1975.
Zoological Reference Collection Specimen Shelves (1988) by Hoi Kee YipLee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
Zoological Reference Collection Opens
In October 1988, the Zoological Reference Collection opened at the National University of Singapore.
Known as the ZRC and now part of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, it holds the zoological collections that were moved out of the National Museum in the 1970s.
Cream-coloured Giant Squirrel (Ratufa affinis affinis) (2019-03-06) by Tan Heok HuiLee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
Farewell to the Giant Squirrel?
The cream-coloured giant squirrel (Ratufa affinis affinis), first scientifically named from Singapore specimens by Stamford Raffles in 1821, was once common in Singapore's forests. Sadly, it has not been seen since 1995 and is thought to be locally extinct.
Belcher's Lancelet (Branchiostoma belcheri) (2012-08-28) by Rene OngLee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey (CMBS)
In 2010, the CMBS was launched to survey, document and understand the marine habitats of Singapore (and their inhabitants).
One rediscovery was this Belcher’s lancelet, which had not been recorded in Singapore waters for more than six decades.
Tap to explore
Discover more fascinating stories of Singapore’s biodiversity history in our book publication, 200: Points in Singapore's Natural History.
Click here to read the book!
Text:
Biodiversity Histories Team
Images:
Cliona patera
Dugong dugon
Tectaria singaporiana
Bubalus bubalis
Transatlantic cable
Optediceros breviculum
Crocodylus porosus
Kaloula pulchra
Rubber seeds and capsules
Maculabatis pastinacoides
Egernia depressa
Ratufa affinis affinis
Heok Hui Tan
(National University of Singapore, Singapore)
Holthuija miersii
SIGNIFY, Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
Board of Trustees of National Museums; © National Museums Liverpool
Moulton's moth
Ophiophagus hannah
Pterocaesio chrysozona
Ruzaini Ghazali
(National University of Singapore, Singapore)
Mola sp.
Michael W. F. Tweedie
Hopea sangal
Jeremy W. L. Yeo
(National University of Singapore, Singapore)
Zoological Reference Collection
Hoi Kee Yip
(Singapore)
Branchiostoma belcheri
Rene Ong
(Singapore)
Interested in Natural history?
Get updates with your personalized Culture Weekly
You are all set!
Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.