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...

Revealing new species within a species complex of Nemesia Audouin, 1826 (Araneae, Mygalomorphae) trapdoor spiders from Andalusia (Spain)

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Revealing new species within a species complex of  Nemesia  Audouin, 1826 (Araneae, Mygalomorphae) trapdoor spiders from Andalusia (Spain)

Four new species of the Nemesia dorthesi group , morphologically similar to Nemesia shenlongi Pertegal, García, Molero-Baltanás & Knapp, 2022, from Andalusia (Spain), are described on the basis of various aspects such as morphology, burrow architecture, behavior and habitus: Nemesia eira n. sp. from the province of Cadiz, N. gajui n. sp. from the municipality of Cordoba, N. socohina n. sp. from Guadalcázar, Cordoba, and N. ripolli n. sp. from Cártama, Málaga. In addition to traditional diagnostic characteristics, this study analyzes the dispersal capacity, distribution, and taxonomic status of the nominate species N. ariasi Simon, 1914 from Morocco and N. macrocephala occidentalis Frade & Bacelar, 1931 from Guadalajara and Valencia, Spain.