The scientific study of the tepui highlands — designated as the Pantepui biogeographical region — has been ongoing for more than a century, but it is far from complete.

New species continue to be discovered and described.

The molecular genetic analysis of tepui species, comparing their DNA to that of their lowland relatives, is revealing the details of how and when the isolation of tepui populations began and how the divergence that produced endemic species occurred.

The paleontological and geological history of the Guiana Shield and the Roraima Supergroup continues to be investigated, with new radiometric dating, new sedimentary analysis, and new understanding of the tectonic history of the region adding detail to the picture of how these ancient rocks were deposited and how they came to be in their current position.

The ecology of the tepui summit communities — the food webs, the nutrient cycling, the interactions between carnivorous plants and their prey, the role of the endemic species in maintaining ecosystem function — is studied by researchers who typically have to reach the summit on foot, carry all their equipment with them, and work in challenging field conditions.