This serves as the online repository of Francisco Nemenzo's most valuable contribution to Philippine coral taxonomy, over 100 proposed new coral species, which we also refer to as the "Nemenzo species." As of record, only over 40 of the Nemenzo species are considered valid, while the rest have been synonymized.

For the first time, convenient public access to a large collection of high-quality photos of Nemenzo’s specimens is available. These are accompanied by Nemenzo’s own original descriptions and the taxonomic source and material for each, along with updated information on the taxonomic status of each Nemenzo species and the current physical location of each specimen.

Most of the specimens were collected from the provinces of Mindoro, Palawan, and Cebu. Moreover, the original type specimens are scattered in four repositories or coral museums in the Philippines: the Marine Science Institute and Institute of Biology at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, Manila, Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, and the University of San Carlos in Cebu City, Cebu. This poses a considerable challenge to scientists seeking to validate Nemenzo's work.

Francisco Nemenzo



“Father of Philippine Coral Taxonomy”

A renowned academic and naturalist, he earned his BS and MS in Zoology at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. He went on to teach at the same university, eventually holding the prestigious title of Professor Emeritus. In addition, he also earned an MA from the University of Michigan, USA. 

Prof. Nemenzo devoted his life to the study of Philippine corals. He was among the first to do so, as the only previous work dealing extensively on the subject had been conducted some 30 years prior, based exclusively on specimens deposited in museums in the United States. 

Despite never pursuing a doctorate or donning a SCUBA tank, Nemenzo meticulously described and catalogued over 375 species of corals, including 94 new species and five new varieties. His work was published in seven volumes of “Systematic Studies on Philippine Shallow-Water Scleractinians” and several standalone papers, a process which took over 20 years. Nemenzo insisted on publishing these in local scientific journals, primarily the Natural and Applied Sciences Bulletin, as he firmly believed that understanding and protecting the Philippines’ rich biological heritage should be primarily the responsibility of Filipinos, and thus his work must be accessible to them. 

During his lifetime, Nemenzo was granted fellowships from the Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, US National Museum (Smithsonian Institution, Washington), and the British Museum of Natural History (London), as well as memberships in numerous local and international learned societies. He is immortalized in the coral genus Nemenzophyllia (Hodgson & Ross, 1982), which is named in his honor.

To date, Nemenzo's works remain the most comprehensive record of Philippine corals, and a precious legacy to present and future Filipino scientists. 

Guide to the Nemenzo species

Nemenzo described over 375 species of corals from specimens collected mostly from Mindoro, Palawan, and Cebu. Of these, he proposed that 94 were new species and 5 were new varieties – it is these which we refer to as "Nemenzo species." Just over 40 of these species are considered valid, while the rest have been synonymized. 

Given the extreme diversity of Philippine corals, of which there are an estimated 505 species1, and the relatively low circulation and poor print quality of Nemenzo's original publications, it is worth revisiting this esteemed taxonomist’s identifications for their potential significance in defining Philippine coral diversity.

Nemenzo's original specimens are scattered in four repositories across the country: the Marine Science Institute and Institute of Biology at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, Silliman University in Dumaguete, and the University of San Carlos in Cebu. This poses a considerable challenge to scientists seeking to validate Nemenzo's work.

This website provides, for the first time, convenient public access to a large collection of high-quality photos of Nemenzo’s specimens. These are accompanied by Nemenzo’s own original descriptions and the taxonomic source and material for each, along with updated information on the taxonomic status of each Nemenzo species and the current physical location of each specimen. 

Sources:

DeVantier L, Turak E. 2017. Species Richness and Relative Abundance of Reef-Building Corals in the Indo-West Pacific. Diversity 9(3):25. {note this lists 505 species from the Sulu Sea, more than any single report from the Philippines and its neighbors}

Nemenzo, F. 1986. Guide to the Philippine Flora and Fauna Vol V. Corals. Ministry of Natural Resources and University of the Philippines, Quezon City. 273 pp.



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Browse the Nemenzo Virtual Museum Collections:

Acropora bifurcata

Acropora caroliniana

Acropora copiosa

Acropora dispar

Acropora excelsa

Acropora fastigata

Acropora imperfecta

Acropora insignis

Acropora lianae

Acropora librata

Acropora loricata

Acropora loricata var. distorta

Acropora magnifica

Acropora meridiana

Acropora multiacuta

Acropora multiramosa

Acropora plana

Acropora ponderosa

Acropora profusa

Acropora prominens

Acropora reclinata

Acropora singularis

Acropora splendida

Acropora varia

Acropora vermiculata

Acropora virilis

Alveopora alcalai

Alveopora noamiae

Alveopora trihedralis

Anacropora firma

Anacropora puertogalerae

Astreopora stellae

Barabattoia modesta

Bikiniastrea maritima

Blastomussa lawtoni

Coelogyra levis

Coscinaraea rugosa

Cycloseris similis

Cycloseris sinuousa

Cyphastrea conferta

Cyphastrea glomerata

Cyphastrea laticostata

Cyphastrea minuta

Dendrophyllia carleenae

Dendrophyllia erecta

Dendrophyllia micrantha var. fruticosa

Dendrophyllia sphaerica

Dendrophyllia turbinata

Echinopora litae

Favia lylei

Favites parvicella

Fungia (Danafungia) fralinae

Fungia fungites var. insularis

Fungia fungites var. lucapensis

Fungia gravis

Galaxea alta

Galaxea lawisiana

Galaxea negrensis

Galaxea prolifera

Galaxea susanae

Goniastrea equisepta

Goniopora burgosi

Goniopora petiolata

Hydnophora aurorae

Hydnophora breviconus

Hydnophora ramosa

Leptastrea mammiformis

Leptoseris zamboi

Lithophyllon levistei

Merulina vaughani var. rotunda

Millepora cruzi

Montipora altasepta

Montipora angusta

Montipora carinata

Montipora cebuensis

Montipora coalita

Montipora conferta

Montipora confusa

Montipora conspicua

Montipora contorta

Montipora florida

Montipora inconstans

Montipora mactanensis

Montipora malampaya

Montipora nodulosa

Montipora orientalis

Montipora plateformis

Montipora prava

Montipora reniformis

Montipora rubra

Montipora samarensis

Montipora setosa

Montipora strigosa

Montipora strigosa var. tenuis

Montipora sumilonensis

Mycedium mancaoi

Oulastrea alta

Oxypora crassispinosa

Oxypora glabra

Pachyseris clementei

Pachyseris gemmae

Pavona dilatata

Pavona (Pseudocolumnastrea) bipartita

Pectinia (Parapectinia) diversa

Pectinia (Parapectinia) teres

Pectinia plicata

Physogyra exerta

Physophyllia wellsi

Platygyra exigua

Plerogyra eurysepta

Plesiastrea carli

Plesiastrea salebrosa

Porites attenuata

Porites cumulatus

Porites galeata

Porites globosa

Porites (Napopora) violetae

Porites ornata

Porites planocella

Porites sillimaniani

Psammocora contigua var. pulchra

Sclerhelia dubia

Seriatopora caliendrum var. subtilis

Seriatopora prescillae

Simplastrea leytensis

Stylophora dendritica

Stylophora expanda

Stylophora nana

Symphyllia recta var. pina

Trachyphyllia lelandi

Turbinaria attenuata

Turbinaria carcarensis

Turbinaria carinata

Turbinaria crassa

Turbinaria cylindrica

Turbinaria disparata

Turbinaria diversa

Turbinaria eminens

Turbinaria nitida

Turbinaria yaelae