RENNY KURNIA HADIATY was a leading international expert on the systematics of the freshwater fishes of Southeast Asia, especially those from her home country of Indonesia. For over three decades, she conducted research as a systematic ichthyologist at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) Research Center for Biology, which since the mid-1990s has been based in Cibinong, Java. As Head of the Ichthyology Laboratory and the Curator of the Fish Collection of the Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense (MZB), she oversaw the collection of freshwater fishes that had once been housed in the historic Bogor Botanical Garden in Bogor, Java.
Renny was born in Malang, East Java, on August 21, 1960. She received her undergraduate degree in biology in 1985 from The University of General Soedirman, Purwokerto, Central Java. In 1986, she joined the MZB. From that position she began her scientific studies of fish biodiversity throughout Indonesia.
DW recounts development of her close association with Renny:
“I met Renny when she just joined the Research Center for Biology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, in 1986. At that time, as a freshly graduated Biology major, she didn't know how to identify fishes. However, she was an eager and fast learner, so it was not difficult for me to teach her how to identify fishes using the volumes of Weber & de Beaufort, although English text was not easy for her at the beginning.
She learned fish taxonomy from Darrel J. Siebert (Natural History Museum of London, UK) when he visited Bogor in 1998. This intensive short course resulted in the publication of her first taxonomic paper (Hadiaty and Siebert, 1998) describing two new fish species from north-western Sumatra. After that, Renny broadened her horizons by developing good, strong scientific collaborations with national and international ichthyologists.
Renny was hard-working and had a pleasant personality. She was easy to work with. Renny and I were involved in many fieldtrips together, about 30 excursions between 2006 until August 2018. About a month after our last fieldtrip, she took a long sick leave. Renny was one of my best colleagues and friends. I miss her.”
Renny was a collections-based field biologist. She was fearless in the field, leading or joining expeditions that took her throughout the Indonesian archipelago, from Sumatra to New Guinea. She was kind and had a delightful sense of humor. She was practical and facilitated field research with a natural ease: on a field trip in 2010 to Sulawesi, she obtained formalin and ethanol from a colleague at a local university. She was a skilled photographer and set up photo tanks in her hotel room in the evening following a day of collecting. Live fishes were placed in small tanks with some native vegetation and rocks to show each species in its best light in a modest recreation of natural habitat.
Renny was principal founder of the Masyarakat Iktiologi Indonesia (Indonesian Ichthyological Society), a professional ichthyological organization. She served as its Vice Chair of Central Management. The Society organizes regular national seminars and convenes a national congress on fishes. The Society also publishes the Jurnal Iktiologi Indonesia. Proceedings of the sixth national seminar and third congress were published in an edited volume (Simanjuntak et al., 2011). Most of the papers were in Bahasa Indonesia, with just one in English. Renny was proud of the high-quality scholarship of the proceedings yet acknowledged that publications in English would reach a wider audience. She planned a new English-language journal, Tropical Ichthyology Journal, and had started to assemble an editorial board. She published in Bahasa Indonesia as well as English and French; we list her principal English and French publications, below. She was especially proud of descriptions of new fish species that highlighted the extraordinary natural biodiversity of Indonesia. One of her aims was to influence the sustainable use of fishes in Indonesia and thereby minimize the risk of their extinction.
Fig. 1
Renny Hadiaty showing her new cabinet dedicated to type specimens at the MZB, 2010. Photo by L. R. Parenti.
Fig. 2
Daniel Lumbantobing, Sopian Sauri, and Renny Hadiaty, on field trip to Sulawesi Tenggara, 2010. Photo by L. R. Parenti.
Renny was a curious, engaged, and productive scientist who maintained a strong network of international collaborators (see Allen, 2019). She traveled to major museums in the U.S. and Europe, examining type specimens and broader collections. She persuaded her many colleagues to deposit type specimens in the MZB. Colleagues named three new species of fishes from Indonesia in her honor: Oryzias hadiatyae Herder and Chapuis, 2010, a freshwater ricefish from Sulawesi; Paracheilinus rennyae Allen, Erdmann, and Yusmalinda, 2013, a marine wrasse from Flores; and Platygobiopsis hadiatyae Larson, Jaafar, Tan, and Peristiwady, 2020, a deep-sea gobiid from southern Java. There was no limit to her enthusiasm, dedication, and curiosity. On an extended visit to the National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., in 2006, she was intrigued by the comparative osteology of nemacheilin loaches she could observe by dissecting cleared and stained specimens. In 2014, she was awarded her D.Sc. from The University of the Ryukyus, Japan.
Renny died of cancer on January 30, 2019, at age 59. She cherished her family—husband Elistyo Sritaman, sons Arief Aditya Hutama and Muhammad Baiquni Bramantyo, and daughter Rani Puri Permata—all of whom survive her.
We mourn her loss and remain inspired by her optimism.
LITERATURE CITED
SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS OF RENNY KURNIA HADIATY (ENGLISH AND FRENCH)
Hadiaty, R. K., and D. J. Siebert. 1998. Two new species of Osteochilus (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) from Sungai Lembang, Sungai Balimbing Research Station, Gunung Leuser National Park, Aceh, Northwestern Sumatra. Revue Française d'Aquariologie, Herpétologie 25:1–4.
Pouyaud, L., S. Wirjoatmodjo, I. Rachmatika, A. H. Tjakrawidjaja, R. K. Hadiaty, and W. Hadie. 1999. Une nouvelle espèce de coelacanthe. Preuves génétiques et morphologiques. Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences. Série 3, Sciences de la Vie. No. 322:261–267.
Hadiaty, R. K., and D. J. Siebert. 2001. Nemacheilus tuberigum: a new species of loach (Teleostei: Balitoridae) from Aceh, Northwestern Sumatra, Indonesia. Bulletin of the Natural History Museum London (Zoology) 67:183–189.
Ng, H. H., S. Wirjoatmodjo, and R. K. Hadiaty. 2001. Mystus punctifer: a new species of bagrid catfish (Teleostei: Siluriformes) from northern Sumatra. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 49:355–358.
Ng, H. H., S. Wirjoatmodjo, and R. K. Hadiaty. 2001. Hemibagrus caveatus: a new species of bagrid catfish (Teleostei: Siluriformes) from northern Sumatra. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 49:359–361.
Ng, H. H., S. Wirjoatmodjo, and R. K. Hadiaty. 2004. Kryptopterus piperatus: a new species of silurid catfish (Teleostei: Siluriformes) from northern Sumatra. Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters 15:91–95.
Ng, H. H., and R. K. Hadiaty. 2005. Two new bagrid catfishes (Teleostei: Bagridae) from Alas River drainage, Northern Sumatra. Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters 16:83–92.
Page, L. M., R. K. Hadiaty, J. A. López, I. Rachmatika, and R. H. Robins. 2007. Two new species of the Akysis variegatus species group (Siluriformes: Akysidae) from southern Sumatra and a redescription of Akysis variegatus Bleeker, 1846. Copeia 2007:292–303.
Allen, G. R., P. J. Unmack, and R. K. Hadiaty. 2008. Two new species of rainbowfishes (Melanotaenia: Melanotaeniidae) from western New Guinea (Papua Barat Province, Indonesia). Aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology 14: 209–224.
Ng, H. H., and R. K. Hadiaty. 2008. Glyptothorax plectilis: a new species of hillstream catfish from Northern Sumatra (Teleostei: Sisoridae). Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 157:137–147.
Thomson, A. W., J. A. López, R. K. Hadiaty, and L. M. Page. 2008. A new species of Nanobagrus (Teleostei: Bagridae) from southern Sumatra. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 157:62–72.
Hadiaty, R. K., and M. Kottelat. 2009. Pangio lidi: a new species of loach from eastern Borneo, Indonesia (Teleostei: Cobitidae). Zootaxa 2171:65–68.
Hadiaty, R. K., and M. Kottelat. 2009. Rasbora lacrimula: a new species of cyprinid fish from eastern Borneo (Teleostei: Cyprinidae). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters 20: 105–109.
Hadiaty, R. K., and M. Kottelat. 2009. Nemacheilus tebo: a new loach from Sangkulirang karst, east Kalimantan, Indonesia (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae). The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 57:119–125.
Ng, H. H., and R. K. Hadiaty. 2009. Glyptothorax ketambe: a new catfish from northern Sumatra (Teleostei: Sisoridae). Zootaxa 2085:61–68.
Ng, H. H., and R. K. Hadiaty. 2009. Ompok brevirictus: a new catfish (Teleostei: Siluridae) from Sumatra. Zootaxa 2232: 50–60.
Nielsen, J. G., W. Schwarzhans, and R. K. Hadiaty. 2009. A blind, new species of Diancistrus (Teleostei, Bythitidae) from three caves on Muna Island, southeast of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Cybium 33:241–245.
Hadiaty, R. K., and M. Kottelat. 2010. Nemacheilus marang: a new loach (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae) from Sangkulirang karst, eastern Borneo. Zootaxa 2557:39–48.
Parenti, L. R., and R. K. Hadiaty. 2010. A new remarkably colorful small ricefish of the genus Oryzias (Beloniformes, Adrianichthyidae) from Sulawesi, Indonesia. Copeia 2010: 268–273.
Allen, G. R., and R. K. Hadiaty. 2011. A new species of rainbowfish (Melanotaeniidae) from Western New Guinea. Fishes of Sahul, Journal of the Australia New Guinea Fishes Association 25:601–607.
Hadiaty, R. K., and G. R. Allen. 2011. Glossamia arguni: a new species of freshwater cardinalfish (Apogonidae) from West Papua Province, Indonesia. Aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology 17:173–180.
Keith, P., G. Allen, C. Lord, and R. K. Hadiaty. 2011. Five new species of Sicyopterus (Gobioidei: Sicydiinae) from Papua New Guinea and Papua. Cybium 35:299–318.
Ng, H. H., and R. K. Hadiaty. 2011. Clarias microspilus: a new walking catfish (Teleostei: Clariidae) from northern Sumatra, Indonesia. Journal of Threatened Taxa 3:1577–1584.
Herder, F., R. K. Hadiaty, and A. Nolte. 2012. Pelvic-fin brooding in a new species of riverine ricefish (Atherinomorpha: Beloniformes: Adrianichthyidae) from Tana Toraja, central Sulawesi, Indonesia. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60:467–476.
Kadarusman, R. K. Hadiaty, G. Segura, G. Setiawibawa, D. Caruso, and L. Pouyaud. 2012. Four new species of rainbowfishes (Melanotaeniidae) from Arguni Bay, West Papua, Indonesia. Cybium 36:362–382.
Keith, P., R. K. Hadiaty, and C. Lord. 2012. A new species of Belobranchus (Teleostei: Gobioidei: Eleotridae) from Indonesia. Cybium 36:479–484.
Pouyaud, L., Kadarusman, R. K. Hadiaty, J. Slembrouk, N. Lemauk, R. V. Kusumah, and P. Keith. 2012. Oxyeleotris colasi (Teleostei: Eleotridae): a new blind cave fish from Lengguru in West Papua, Indonesia. Cybium 36:521–529.
Vari, R. P., and R. K. Hadiaty. 2012. The endemic Sulawesi fish genus Lagusia (Teleostei: Terapontidae). The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60:157–162.
Allen, G. R., and R. K. Hadiaty. 2013. Melanotaenia sneideri: a new species of rainbowfish (Melanotaeniidae) from West Papua Province, Indonesia. Aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology 19:137–146.
Parenti, L. R., R. K. Hadiaty, D. Lumbantobing, and F. Herder. 2013. Discovery and description of two new ricefishes of the genus Oryzias (Atherinomorpha, Beloniformes, Adrianichthyidae) augments the endemic freshwater fish fauna of southeastern Sulawesi, Indonesia. Copeia 2013:403–414.
Allen, G. R., and R. K. Hadiaty. 2014. Two new species of freshwater gudgeons (Eleotridae: Mogurnda) from the Arguni Bay Region of West Papua, Indonesia. Aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology 20:97–110.
Allen, G. R., R. K. Hadiaty, and P. K. Unmack. 2014. Melanotaenia flavipinnis: a new species of rainbowfish (Melanotaeniidae) from Misool Island, West Papua Province, Indonesia. Aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology 20:35–52.
Allen, G. R., P. J. Unmack, and R. K. Hadiaty. 2014. Three new species of rainbowfishes (Melanotaeniidae) from the Birds Head Peninsula, West Papua Province, Indonesia. Aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology 20:139–158.
Huylebrouck, J., R. K. Hadiaty, and F. Herder. 2014. Two new species of viviparous halfbeaks (Atherinomorpha: Beloniformes: Zenarchopteridae) endemic to Sulawesi Tenggara, Indonesia. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 62: 200–209.
Keith, P., and R. K. Hadiaty. 2014. Stiphodon annieae: a new species of freshwater goby from Indonesia (Gobiidae). Cybium 38:267–272.
Keith, P., R. K. Hadiaty, F. Busson, and N. Hubert. 2014. A new species of Sicyopus (Gobiidae) from Java and Bali. Cybium 38:173–178.
Keith, P., R. K. Hadiaty, N. Hubert, F. Busson, and C. Lord. 2014. Three new species of Lentipes from Indonesia. Cybium 38:133–146.
Larson, H. K., M. F. Geiger, R. K. Hadiaty, and F. Herder. 2014. Mugilogobius hitam: a new species of freshwater goby (Teleostei: Gobioidei: Gobiidae) from Lake Towuti, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 62: 718–725.
Allen, G. R., R. K. Hadiaty, P. J. Unmack, and M. V. Erdmann. 2015. Rainbowfishes (Melanotaenia: Melanotaeniidae) of the Aru Islands, Indonesia, with description of five new species and redescription of M. patoti Weber and M. senkenbergianus Weber. Aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology 21:66–108.
Allen, G. R., P. J. Unmack, and R. K. Hadiaty. 2015. Melanotaenia rubrivittata: a new species of rainbowfish (Melanotaeniidae) from northwestern Papua Province, Indonesia. Fishes of Sahul, Journal of the Australia New Guinea Fishes Association 29:846–858.
Graf, J. A., F. Herder, and R. K. Hadiaty. 2015. A new species of rainbowfish (Melanotaeniidae), Melanotaenia garylangei, from western New Guinea (Papua Province, Indonesia). Fishes of Sahul, Journal of the Australia New Guinea Fishes Association 29:870–881.
Hoese, D. F., R. K. Hadiaty, and F. Herder. 2015. Review of the dwarf Glossogobius lacking head pores from the Malili Lakes, Sulawesi, with a discussion of the definition of the genus. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 63:14–26.
Keith, P., F. Busson, S. Sauri, N. Hubert, and R. Hadiaty. 2015. A new Stiphodon (Gobiidae) from Indonesia. Cybium 39:219–225.
Keith, P., C. Lord, F. Busson, S. Sauri, N. Hubert, and R. K. Hadiaty. 2015. A new species of Sicyopterus (Gobiidae) from Indonesia. Cybium 39:243–248.
Ng, H. H., R. K. Hadiaty, J. G. Lundberg, and K. R. Luckenbill. 2015. A new genus and species of bagrid catfish from northern Sumatra (Siluriformes: Bagridae). Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 164:149–157.
Nugraha, M. F. I., Kadarusman, N. Hubert, J.-C. Avarre, R. K. Hadiaty, J. Slembrouck, O. Carman, Sudarto, R. Ogistira, and L. Pouyaud. 2015. Eight new species of rainbowfishes (Melanotaeniidae) from the Birds Head Region, West Papua, Indonesia. Cybium 39:99–130.
Allen, G. R., M. V. Erdmann, and R. K. Hadiaty. 2016. Acentrogobius limarius: a new species of goby (Pisces: Gobiidae) from West Papua Province, Indonesia. Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation 15:33–40.
Allen, G. R., P. J. Unmack, and R. K. Hadiaty. 2016. The Goldiei group of rainbowfishes (Melanotaeniidae) from the Birds Neck Region of New Guinea (Papua and West Papua Provinces, Indonesia) with descriptions of five new species and recognition of Melanotaenia dumasi Weber. Aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology 22:1–31.
Allen, G. R., P. J. Unmack, and R. K. Hadiaty. 2016. Pseudomugil luminatus: a new species of blue-eye (Teleostei: Pseudomugilidae) from southern New Guinea, with notes on P. gertrudae. Fishes of Sahul, Journal of the Australia New Guinea Fisheries Association 30:950–961.
Hubert, N., D. N. Lumbantobing, A. Sholihah, H. Dahruddin, E. Delrieu-Trottin, F. Busson, S. Sauri, R. K. Hadiaty, and P. Keith. 2019. Revisiting species boundaries and distribution ranges of Nemacheilus spp. (Cypriniformes: Nemacheilidae) and Rasbora spp. (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) in Java, Bali and Lombok through DNA barcodes: implications for conservation in a biodiversity hotspot. Conservation Genetics 20:517–529.
Kraemer, J., P. Thieme, R. K. Hadiaty, and F. Herder. 2019. Structure of the andropodium of the viviparous halfbeak genus Nomorhamphus (Atherinomorpha: Beloniformes: Zenarchopteridae), endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 67:247–259.
Ng, H. H., and R. K. Hadiaty. 2019. Leiocassis rudicula (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Bagridae), a new catfish from eastern Borneo. Zootaxa 4651:191–200.
