Researchers have discovered a new species of spider in Thailand, belonging to the tarantula group. Tarantulas are a large group of hairy spiders in the family Theraphosidae. These new tarantulas build their nests inside bamboo stalks, a behavior that has never been recorded before in tarantula species.
These new tarantulas build their nests inside bamboo stalks.
The new study published in the journal ZooKeys describes this tarantula species as previously unknown, residing in the forests of Tak Province, Thailand. They have been named Taksinus bambus, as these tarantulas live inside the stalks of Asian bamboo (Gigantochloa), where they construct their burrows using silk.
“These creatures are truly impressive,” Narin Chomphuphuang, co-author of the new study and a researcher at Khon Kaen University in Thailand, wrote in a blog post for Pensoft. “They are the first known tarantulas associated with a bamboo-based ecosystem.”
This discovery further emphasizes the importance of bamboo to wildlife, demonstrating the evolutionary adaptability of tarantulas and highlighting the biodiversity of Thailand’s forests.
These are the first known tarantulas associated with a bamboo-based ecosystem.
These spiders live at an altitude of 1,000 meters above sea level, with dark black and gray bodies and yellow stripes on their legs.
“We examined all the plants in the area where this species was discovered. This tarantula species is closely tied to bamboo; we have never observed them in any other plant species,” Narin wrote.
The entrances to their nests vary in shape, ranging from 2-3 cm holes to large cracks in the bamboo stalks. Researchers noted that they do not have the ability to create these burrows themselves but utilize those made by other animals.
The research team named the new tarantula species after King Taksin the Great of Thailand.
This is not a difficult issue, as bamboo is used by many creatures, from beetles and bamboo borers to carpenter bees nesting in bamboo and various rodents. Bamboo can also crack naturally, resulting from rapid changes in moisture, uneven drying, or being soaked and then drying quickly.
Taksinus is classified under the subfamily Ornithoctoninae of Southeast Asian tarantulas. The research team named the new tarantula species after King Taksin the Great, who ruled Tak Province in the 18th century.
