Soil Preference and Burrow Characteristics of Two Theraphosidae Species in Penang Island, Malaysia

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  Soil Preference and Burrow Characteristics of Two Theraphosidae Species in Penang Island, Malaysia Abstract Tarantulas play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance by regulating insect populations. However, little is known about the soil preferences and burrow structures of tarantulas in Malaysia. This study aims to determine the soil preference as well as the burrow structure of  Coremiocnemis cunciularia  and  Chilobrachys andersoni  from Penang Island. The soil characteristics of the soil samples collected around the burrows of  Coremiocnemis cunciularia  (n = 30) and  Chilobrachys andersoni  (n = 30) were determined using soil texture analysis. The measurements and burrow structures from adults and juveniles of  Coremiocnemis cunciularia  and  Chilobrachys andersoni  were determined. It was revealed that the moisture content and clay percentage in the soil samples around burrows of  Chilobrachys anderso...

The role of the burrow structure in the characterisation of trap door spiders Nemesia Audouin, 1826 (Araneae, Mygalomorphae)

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The role of the burrow structure in the characterisation of trap door spiders Nemesia Audouin, 1826 (Araneae, Mygalomorphae)

Abstract 

Three new species of the trap-door spider genus Nemesia Audouin, 1826 are described from southern Portugal, namely Nemesia bonali sp. nov. from Portimão and Alvor, Nemesia molerobaltanasi sp. nov. from Castelão (Loulé), and Nemesia rebellis sp. nov. from Odeleite. These species have specific morphological and/or behavioral similarities with N. athiasi Franganillo, 1920, N. fagei Frade & Bacelar, 1931, and N. ungoliant Decae, Car-doso & Selden, 2007, but are easily distinguishable if attention is paid to all details including the size, the prosoma shape and the burrow structure. The available literature on N. fagei is discussed and the need to consider the burrow as a possible character for diagnosis when describing and identifying species of the genus Nemesia is illustrated. Finally, a few guidelines are proposed to aid in the study of these spiders, both at the species level and for the general understanding of spiders of this genus. 


Pertegal, Cristian, y Ginés Rodriguez-Castilla. 2024. «El Papel De La Estructura Del Nido En La caracterización De Las Especies De arañas De Trampilla Nemesia Audouin, 1826 (Araneae, Mygalomorphae)». 
Graellsia 80 (1-2):e755. https://doi.org/10.3989/graellsia.2024.v80.755.