“Caves are natural laboratories for evolution"
My principal research interest is in evolution, adaptation, and speciation in subterranean environment. I combine field surveys and traditional taxonomy with molecular and biometric approaches to answer evolutionary questions regarding correlations between subterranean habitats and adaptive features of cave beetles.
Keywords
evolution, borneo, biodiversity, systematics, biospeleology, cave beetles, dinaric mountains
Researchinterest
My principal research interest is in evolution, adaptation, and speciation in subterranean environment. I combine field surveys and traditional taxonomy with molecular and biometric approaches to answer evolutionary questions regarding correlations between subterranean habitats and adaptive features of cave beetles.
My future research plans are to continue working in the field of subterranean biology, but to broaden the scope of my research by looking for global patterns of evolution and radiation in subterranean environment. Additionally, I have a particular interest in doing alpha taxonomy and biodiversity research in Asia.
Currenttopics
A selection of the topics I am working on currently.
Keypublications
- Perreau M, Njunjić I, de Groot MD, Van Caenegem W, Haelewaters D (2025) Redescription of the Cretaceous species Archaeocerus uenoi Perreau, 2019 based on synchrotron radiation micro-tomography and nano-tomography (Coleoptera, Leiodidae, Catopocerinae). Subterranean Biology 52: 187–200. https://doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.52.154293
- Santangelo et al., (2022) Global urban environmental change drives adaptation in white clover. Science 375, 1275–1281. doi: 10.1126/science.abk0989
- Njunjić I, Perrard A, Hendriks K, Schilthuizen M, Perreau M, Merckx V, Baylac M, Deharveng L. (2018) Comprehensive evolutionary analysis of the Anthroherpon radiation (Coleoptera, Leiodidae, Leptodirini). PLoS ONE 13(6): e0198367. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0198367
- Schilthuizen M, Perreau M, Njunjić I. (2018) A review of the Cholevinae (Coleoptera, Leiodidae) from the island of Borneo. Zookeys, 777: 57-108. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.777.23212
- Njunjić I, Schilthuizen M, Pavićević D, Perreau M. (2017) Clarifying the puzzling taxonomy of cave beetle genera Remyella and Rozajella (Coleoptera: Leiodidae: Cholevinae: Leptodirini). Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny, 75 (1):141-158. https://doi.org/10.3897/asp.75.e31881
- Njunjić I, Perreau M, Hendriks K, Schilthuizen M. & Deharveng L. (2016) The cave beetle genus Anthroherpon is polyphyletic; molecular phylogenetics and description of Graciliella n. gen. (Leiodidae, Leptodirini). Contributions to Zoology, 85(3):337-359. https://doi.org/10.1163/18759866-08503005
PhDsupervision
Naturalis aims to be a breeding ground for international scientific talent. Therefore, PhD's have a special position in our organisation.
[please add a bullet list of people currently under your supervision, preferably with a url to their profile pages]
Teachingactivities
[short description of teaching activities, bullet list]
In themedia
[short reference to online media with url]
