Two types of spiders found in southern Taiwan’s Hengchun Peninsula have been identified as new species after years of analysis and cross-checking, the Taiwan Biodiversity Research Institute said on Thursday.
The new species are Idioctis parilarilao, also known as the parilarilao trapdoor spider, and Hogna arborea, or the Taiwanese tree-dwelling wolf spider, the institute said in a statement.
The discoveries came after years of effort by a research team consisting of personnel from the institute, National Taiwan Normal University, National Chung Hsing University and international experts, the institute said.
Photo courtesy of Lo Ying-yuan via CNA
It did not specify when the spiders were first found, but said it took years of collecting specimens, reviewing published studies and DNA time series analyses, and comparing foreign samples to confirm the Parilarilao trapdoor spiders as a new species.
Ultimately, researchers determined that parilarilao trapdoor spiders belong to the family Barychelidae, and that Taiwan is the northernmost habitat of spiders in this family.
Parilarilao trapdoor spiders build nests with trap doors and live in intertidal zones, meaning they are underwater at high tide but exposed during low tide, the institute said.
Their nests are closed by watertight trap doors to ensure that there is enough air and their homes are not flooded or washed away at high tide, and the spiders slightly open the trap doors at low tide and attack prey that go past their nests.
The new species was named after the indigenous name for the area, with parilarilao meaning “living at the end of Taiwan” in the Paiwan language, the institute said.
The other species, Hogna arborea, was determined to belong to the family Lycosidae, and according to the institute, wolf spiders in this family often dwell in grasslands, farmland or meadows.
Researchers found wolf spiders living in treeholes in recent years in several areas of eastern and southern Taiwan, including Hengchun in the south and Yilan and Hualien counties in the east, and that these spiders were later confirmed to be a new species, the institute said.
The new species was named Hogna arborea, with hogna meaning “wolf spider” and arborea meaning “living on trees,” the institute said.
According to the institute, Taiwanese tree-dwelling wolf spiders have a body size of more than 2cm and are considered large compared with most Taiwanese wolf spiders.
Taiwan has more than 20 wolf spider species, the institute said.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
RSS