SA ecologist Dr Martine Jordaan has been honoured in science after researchers named a newly discovered parasite species in her honour.
Western Cape, South Africa (02 June 2026) – Dr Martine Jordaan, a Biodiversity Intelligence Officer at CapeNature, has had a gill parasite called Paradiplozoon jordaanae named in her honour following its formal description in a peer-reviewed international journal in April.
Researchers Marliese Truter, Iva Přikrylová and Nico J. Smit have formally described the new species of tiny parasitic worms that live on the gills of freshwater fish in the Western Cape.
This particular species was found on the gills of two endemic freshwater fish – the Clanwilliam sawfin and the Clanwilliam redfin – collected from the Matjies and Rondegat rivers in the Cape Fold Ecoregion. Both fish are listed as Near Threatened, and this was the first time a parasite of this type had ever been recorded in the Cape Fold region at all.
As per the Silver Mountain Foundation, Dr Jordaan is an aquatic biologist with a background in environmental toxicology and conservation science. She holds a master’s in aquaculture and a doctorate in ecotoxicology, and is an honorary research associate at the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity. Her work has focused on indigenous fish and aquatic ecosystem conservation, and she has a long-term passion for freshwater fish – particularly the redfin minnows of the Cape.
In the official scientific paper, researchers named the species after Dr Jordaan, honouring her work and deep knowledge of the region that led to this discovery.
“This species is named for Dr Martine S Jordaan, CapeNature ecologist, in recognition of her knowledge and passion for the aquatic life of the Cape Fold Ecoregion, continuous enthusiasm to study the region’s fishes and understanding their parasitofauna. Dr Jordaan also played a critical role in collecting the hosts of this species.”
It might seem odd to have a parasite named after you, but in scientific circles it is considered an incredible mark of respect, embedding someone’s contribution into the scientific record. The species name jordaanae will now appear in research papers and databases forever.
South Africa’s Cape Fold Ecoregion is home to an incredible collection of freshwater species endemic to the area. Researchers note that the fish of the Cape Fold Ecoregion have received very little parasitological attention, leaving much of the region’s aquatic biodiversity still undocumented.
“The authors are grateful towards the CapeNature Biodiversity Intelligence Officers Martine Jordaan, Jeanne Gouws, and the Cederberg conservation manager, Monique Ruthenberg, for their assistance and guidance during field surveys,” the paper shares.
Local Ocean Champion Zoë Prinsloo Takes Her Mission Global!
Cape Town Kayakers Rescue Starving African Penguin Far Out to Sea
by 
