The Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University (PSU), led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sopark Jantarit, a researcher at the Excellence Center for Biodiversity of Penincular Thailand (CBIPT), has collaborated with national and international research teams to discover new species of organisms that have been formally named in honor of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, The Princess Royal, on the auspicious occasion of her 70th birthday anniversary in 2025. 
This initiative represents a collaborative effort by scientists from 45 institutions worldwide, who jointly named newly discovered species to pay tribute to Her Royal Highness and to celebrate her longstanding contributions and dedication to natural sciences, taxonomy, and biodiversity conservation.
The findings were compiled and published in the academic article titled “Naming New Species in Honor of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn”, which was selected for publication in the journal Tropical Natural History. The article documents more than 43 newly discovered species across animals, plants, and microorganisms, highlighting Thailand’s scientific excellence and Her Royal Highness’s visionary contributions to natural science.
From the Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sopark Jantarit and colleagues contributed to the discovery and naming of two new species:
(1) Lepidonella sirindhornae sp. nov. a cave springtail discovered in Phaya Bangsa Cave, Mueang District, Satun Province, in collaboration with Dr. Areeruk Nilsai (Thaksin University) and Mr. Ronnaphon Engchuan (Wildlife Sanctuary Officer, Nong Plak Phraya and Khao Raya Bangsa Non-Hunting Area).
(2) Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) sirindhornae sp. nov. a cave-dwelling ant species found in cave and subterranean ecosystems in Thong Pha Phum District, Kanchanaburi Province, in collaboration with researchers from the National Science Museum (Dr. Weeyawat Jaitrong and Mr. Thasanai Jeenthong), Kanchanaburi Rajabhat University, and Surin Rajabhat University. This research was officially published in Tropical Natural History.
Overall, more than 43 new species were documented in this commemorative initiative. An official press conference was held on 25 December 2025 at Chulalongkorn University, attended by Professor Dr. Anjana Prateep, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Director of the Thailand Peninsula Biodiversity Centre of Excellence.
This achievement underscores Prince of Songkla University’s commitment to biodiversity research and its contribution to global scientific knowledge and conservation efforts.
