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The Scientific Story of a Species Named in My Honor

Curator’s Note: The scientific recognition of a newly described freshwater crayfish species, Cherax phing n. sp., bears the name of Liauw Pauw Phing, celebrating his significant contributions to this field. The species is endemic to the Kali Ombak River basin in Southwest Papua, Indonesia, characterized by its unique morphology and habitat preferences. Cherax phing n. sp. resides in clear, shallow creeks with specific ecological conditions, indicating a stable population. This acknowledgment highlights the intersection of taxonomy, personal history, and broader scientific narratives, emphasizing the lasting impact of such recognition in natural history. This essay was written by Liauw Pauw Phing, Poet and philosopher (Transcendental Lyric Mysticism). Astacologist whose name is immortalized in the species “Cherax phing”. Author of the Freshwater Crayfish book. Mr. Phing is also an editor of ILLUMINATION Publications on Medium and Substack.

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Introduction

There are moments in a life devoted to nature that feel strangely quiet, even when they carry deep meaning. One of those moments came when I learned that a species of freshwater crayfish would carry my name.

In taxonomy, this is not a casual gesture. A name becomes part of the scientific record, something that may remain long after the people involved are gone.
For me, this recognition is tied to many years of curiosity about freshwater crayfish and the friendships that grew from that shared interest.

My path crossed with researchers and explorers who dedicated their lives to understanding these animals. Through conversations, field experiences, and collaboration, a simple fascination gradually became part of a wider scientific story.

There is also a broader reflective dimension to this journey, one that belongs naturally within Illumination Scholar, a space where scientific subjects can be approached not only through fact and classification, but also through memory, thought, and human meaning.

In that sense, the story of Cherax phing n. sp. is not only about taxonomy. It is also about how knowledge, encounter, and personal history sometimes meet in a single name.

The Story Behind the Name

In the taxonomy of freshwater crustaceans, the act of naming a species after an individual carries a weight that transcends mere recognition.

It situates a person within the permanent record of natural history, an entry that outlasts any curriculum vitae or personal archive. Cherax phing n. sp., formally described in Arthropoda in 2024, bears my name in that spirit.

Its etymology states that it was named in honor of Liauw Pauw Phing for his noteworthy contribution to the knowledge of freshwater crayfish.

I am also credited as one of the authors of Freshwater Crayfish of the World (ISBN 978-626-96662-5-6, 2025), together with Chris Lukhaup and Reinhard Pekny.

The Species

Cherax phing n. sp. is endemic to the Kali Ombak River drainage basin in the western part of the Kepala Burung (Vogelkop) Peninsula, Southwest Papua, Indonesia.

It is readily distinguished from related taxa by the distinctive morphology of its chelae, rostrum, and body form, as well as by its coloration. Its taxonomic placement is supported by a molecular phylogeny derived from a mitochondrial gene fragment.

All examined specimens have been deposited at the Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Research Centre for Biosystematics and Evolution, National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia, and at the Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin.

Ecology and Habitat

The species inhabits clear, shallow creeks within the Kali Ombak drainage, with water depths ranging from 20 to 100 cm and flow rates varying from moderate to fast. The water is slightly acidic, with a pH of approximately 5.5, and temperatures range between 23 and 24 °C.

Aquatic vegetation is largely absent, while the substrate alternates between rocky and sandy sections, with portions covered in silt and detritus. The site is surrounded by dense forest.

Cherax phing n. sp. shelters in short burrows excavated into riverbanks, beneath larger rocks, and within accumulations of detritus along the creek. Large males have been observed foraging actively during daylight hours. The population appears stable.

References

Lukhaup, C., Eprilurahman, R., & von Rintelen, T. (2024). Two New Species of Crayfish of the Genus Cherax (Crustacea, Decapoda, Parastacidae) from Western and Eastern Indonesian New Guinea. Arthropoda, 2(4), 264–293. MDPI. https://doi.org/10.3390/arthropoda2040019

Lukhaup, C., Pekny, R., & Phing, L. P. (2025). Freshwater Crayfish of the World. ISBN 978-626-96662-5-6.

Astacology, Astacologist, Carcinology, and Carcinologist:
Definitions, Boundaries, and the Academic and Nonacademic Divide

Thank you for reading my story.

Here is an interview reflecting my background:

Insightful Conversations with Liauw Pauw Phing
Philosopher, Poet, Astacologist, Literary Writer

I recently joined the editorial team to serve as an editor for ILLUMINATION publications on Medium and Substack, and I have also started guest blogging, where I will offer summaries of my stories and book chapters.