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a8 local
Thursday 28 July 2022

Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa ranked top 10 Most Romantic Hotels in

the Caribbean and Top 25 Best Hotels in the Caribbean by TripAdvisor

EAglE BEACH - The annual Tri- Choice award was established
pAdvisor “Travelers’ Choice” in 2002 and is the highest honor
Awards have been released TripAdvisor can bestow.
for 2022 and Manchebo Beach
Resort and Spa has proudly Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa
been awarded not one but two is an intimate boutique resort of
awards. 72 rooms located on majestic
Eagle Beach and hosts a high
The first award is in the ‘Most Ro- percentage of couples, hon-
mantic Hotels in the Caribbean’ eymooners, repeat visitors and
category where the intimate beach lovers. These awards are
boutique resort and spa has dedicated to our loyal visitors
been awarded the number 10 and first-time visitors but most
position. The second award is in importantly to our hardworking
the ‘Top 25 Hotels in the Carib- and dedicated staff that works
bean’ category where the resort The Travelers' Choice awards reviews and opinions collected every day to bring the best ser-
proudly stands at the number 23 honor travelers' favorite destina- from travelers and diners around vice to our guests and ensure a
position. tions, hotels, restaurants, things to the world on TripAdvisor over a memorable experience for years
do, and beyond, based on the 12-month period. The Travelers’ to come. q

New Species of Cone Snail Discovered on Aruba

Researchers from the Florida Atlan- region. In fact, over the course loss. Although cone snails have
tic University and University of Cali- of the one-week field survey, re- historically been overlooked, new
fornia recently discovered a new searcher David Berschauer from studies are uncovering their vast
species of cone snail off the coast the University of California found importance. Toxins from a number
of Aruba. Inhabiting the shallow over 180 different species of mol- of cone snails are now gaining rec-
waters of Malmok Beach, this spe- lusks on Aruba. ognition for their potential medici-
cies represents only one of over nal uses. Already a number of these
180 species of mollusks found dur- One of these species was later de- toxins have been developed and
ing a recent field survey, showcas- termined to be a new subspecies are being used as pain blockers.
ing Aruba as a unique ‘evolution- Jaspidiconus hendrikae, named in Protecting the unique biodiversity
ary hot spot’ for the region. honor of Hendrika Wendriks, moth- within the Dutch Caribbean shore-
er of a well-known Aruban diver line not only has great ecological
Cone snails are predatory sea and amateur malacologist, Jordy value but could contain the key for
snails with colorful patterned shells, Wendricks. This new species can future scientific breakthroughs in a
found throughout the tropics. be found along Malmok Beach, an number of other fields.
These sea snails typically inhabit area on the northern tip of Aruba. please contact research@DCNA-
shallow waters, and use a hollow, Jaspidiconus species dwell in shal- Report your sightings nature.org
venom-filled tooth to paralyze their low water, and given their limited Have you observed Snails or other
prey. Until fairly recently, the over dispersal capabilities, often ex- species? Report your nature sight- Figure 1. Endemic Jaspidiconus
600 species of cone snails were all hibit high degrees of endemism. ings and photos on the website species from Aruba. A, B= Jas-
thought to be under one genus, This new species averages around DutchCaribbean.Observation.org pidiconus hendrikae Petuch &
however genetic research has 14mm in length and is tapered at or download the free apps (iPhone Berschauer, new species, holo-
now found that these species are both ends. Although similar to the (iObs) & Android (ObsMapp)). Spe- type from Malmok Beach, Aruba,
in fact from a number of different species, J. vantwoudti, this new cies reports by local communities length 12.09 mm, LACM 3811; C,
genera. species is a vivid yellow color and and tourists are invaluable for na- D= Jaspidiconus hendrikae Petuch
has tiny rows of brown dots (as can ture conservation efforts to help & Berschauer, new species, length
Evolutionary Hot Spot be seen in the image below). increase public awareness and 10.70 mm, Malmok Beach, Aruba,
Aruba’s nearshore environment is overall species protection. Besides, in the Berschauer research collec-
unique for a number of reasons, Implications DCNA, Observation International tion; E, F= Jaspidiconus vantwoudti
one of which is its rich and highly Globally, tropical marine habi- and Naturalis Biodiversity Center Petuch, Berschauer & Poremski,
endemic mollusk populations. The tats are being threatened due to are working together to develop 2015, holotype, length 12.4 mm,
high percentage of endemism coastal development, pollution, on automated species identifica- Arashi Beach, Aruba; G, H= Jas-
found around the island indicates overfishing and climate change. tion app for your phone. Your up- pidiconus vantwoudti Petuch, Ber-
that Aruba represents distinctive This loss of habitat is leading to a loaded photos are of great value schauer & Poremski, 2015, length
“evolutionary hot spot” within the cascading affect of rapid species to make this possible. For questions, 12 mm, Arashi Beach, Aruba. q