09.01.2025

Eight-legged creatures and where to find them – Two new tarantula species from Southeast-Asia described

Science News

Not quite "itsy-bitsy"! Simon Müller, an entomologist at the Natural History Museum in Stuttgart, has described two new species of tarantula originating from Southeast-Asia.

The first of the two species described comes from a mountain rainforest on Argopuro Mountain in the east of the Indonesian island of Java. As this new species differs greatly from related tarantulas in several characteristics, a new genus called “Aspinochilus” was established for it as part of the research. The genus name refers to the absence of all spines, which are found in known species of other genera, sometimes in large numbers on the legs. The species is described under the name Aspinochilus rufus, which refers to the reddish body coloration that occurs particularly in females of the species.

Aspinochilus rufus is a tree-dwelling tarantula species that builds its nests in tree hollows and branch forks. This previously unknown species is found in a rainforest that is suffering from deforestation, which is why it is important to record the unknown biodiversity of the region before this is no longer possible. Fortunately, breeding the animals is relatively easy, so that the populations of this endangered species can at least be secured through animals bred in captivity.

The second new species described in this publication is another arboreal tarantula found on the island of Sulawesi in lowland rainforests and on a mango plantation near the town of Tammajarra. Unlike Aspinochilus rufus, Phormingochilus hatihati has spines on its legs, but these differ in number and arrangement from its relatives. The name hatihati means “attention” in Indonesian.

 

Original publication