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...

Three new species of Pamirosa Fomichev, Omelko & Marusik, 2024 (Araneae: Lycosidae) from Kyrgyzstan, extending the known range of Artoriinae in Central Asia

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Three new species of Pamirosa Fomichev, Omelko & Marusik, 2024 (Araneae: Lycosidae) from Kyrgyzstan, extending the known range of Artoriinae in Central Asia

Abstract

Three new Pamirosa species from Kyrgyzstan are diagnosed, described, and illustrated: P. alaica sp. nov. (male, female), P. archalturica sp. nov. (male) and P. transalaica sp. nov. (male, female). The new species represent the first records of the genus outside the type locality of the generotype, P. kudratbekovi Fomichev, Omelko & Marusik, 2024 (Pamir Mountains, Tajikistan). The new findings represent the northernmost records of Artoriinae. All new species were collected from screes at elevations of 3700–4200 m. A distribution map of all known Pamirosa species is provided. An identification key to all species is also provided. The distribution of scree-dwelling Lycosidae in Central Asia, and research prospects on this topic are discussed.

Fomichev, A.A. & Omelko, M.M. (2025) Three new species of Pamirosa Fomichev, Omelko & Marusik, 2024 (Araneae: Lycosidae) from Kyrgyzstan, extending the known range of Artoriinae in Central Asia. Zootaxa, 5618 (2), 249–266. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5618.2.4