Tarantulas of the World

Selenocosmia zhangzhengi

A new species of the genus Selenocosmia (Ausserer, 1871) has been described in the southeastern coast of China. Selenocosmia zhangzhengi named after Mr. Zheng Zhang who collected the type material in situ (Fujian providence).

Description:

Males of S.zhangzhengi sp. n. can be distinguished by the absence of long, white setae on the tibia and metatarsus of the legs , the tip of the embolus is at an obtuse angle in S.zhangzhengi and small ventral lamina are absent on the distal embolus which differentiates it as a new sp altogether.

Females of S.zhangzhengi sp. n. can be differentiated by the straight spermathecae and the ratio of the length of the spermathecae to the distance between the spermathecae as it’s almost 2–3:1.

Ecology/Habitat:

Retreats in burrows made in soil mixed with gravel, the burrows are usually about 3 to 4 cm in diameter. The spider web extends 10 to 20 cm inwards from the burrow. The spider moults inside. At night, the spider waits at the mouth of the burrow for its prey to pass by.

As things are settling back to some sort of normalcy, there will be more and more revisions and descriptions happening in the arachnid world. Taxonomists are working hard around the world and it shows as more and more papers come out to the public. As always, when in doubt do not mix hobby species and labels with taxonomy paperwork.

Full paper can be read here