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A team of life scientists from Hunan Normal University and the National University of Singapore have discovered three new species of mesothelial spiders in China.
Discovery of New Mesotela Species
The findings, published in the journal ZooKeys, came after the researchers collected young spiders from various sites in Hunan province and raised them to adulthood in their lab.
Mesotela spiders are notoriously difficult to identify, as they closely resemble each other. One of the most reliable methods of identification is to compare their sexual organs, which can only be done once they have matured.
Mesotela spiders are thought to resemble their ancient ancestors and are part of a small group of about 1,000 species. They are usually only 1-2 centimeters long and live in restricted areas such as groves, caves, and mountain folds.
Most of the species in this group are at risk due to their limited geographic range, so identifying and studying them is essential for their conservation.
Importance of Identifying and Studying Mesotela Spiders
The first group of spiders, the Mygalomorph, tend to have heavy bodies and sometimes hairy legs, like funnel-web spiders and tarantulas. The second group, Araneomorph, is less well known and includes spiders that spin webs in various places, such as attics and empty houses. Mesotela spiders have segmented abdomens usually covered by plates.
The researchers named the three new species they discovered Songthela zhongpo, Songthela longhui and Songthela anhua, after the genus and the parts of Hunan province where they were found. Finding and identifying new mesothelial species is crucial to prevent their disappearance before they are known to exist, given their limited geographic range and the potential impact of human activities.
The discovery of these new species of Mesotelian spiders adds to our understanding of the diversity of life on Earth, especially in regions that are underrepresented in scientific studies.
The research highlights the importance of continued efforts to identify and study different species, particularly those that may be at risk due to their restricted geographic range and threats posed by human activities.
Discovering the Diversity of Spiders
Sarah Crews, a scientist from the California Academy of Sciences, emphasizes the importance of cataloguing the diversity of mesothelean spiders. Due to their small geographic range and specific habitats, some species may be at risk of extinction from human activity.
However, there is still much to discover in the world of spider taxonomy, with new species being added to the list every day. Crews notes that spiders are one of the most diverse terrestrial arthropod orders, with over 50,000 currently known species.
Identifying and studying these species is crucial for understanding their ecological roles and conserving their habitats.
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