Hidden diversity in plain sight: four new species of Nemesia (Araneae: Mygalomorphae) from the Córdoba Province of Spain

Posted by
  Hidden diversity in plain sight: four new species of Nemesia (Araneae: Mygalomorphae) from the Córdoba Province of Spain Abstract A taxonomic revision of the species of Nemesia Audouin, 1826, distributed in the vicinity of Córdoba City, southern Spain, is presented. Four new species are described: Nemesia morana sp. nov. (female), N. kodama sp. nov. (male and female), N. rosae sp. nov. (male and female), and N. tamajoni sp. nov. (male and female). These species are distinguished by distinct morphological characters, including the shape of the spermathecae, palpal bulbs, and spinnerets, as well as by burrow architecture. Fieldwork was conducted across two of the three major habitat types in the region—the humid, forested mountains of Sierra Morena and the croplands and riparian forests of the Guadalquivir Valley—while the third, the “campiña”, which is mainly composed of agricultural landscapes, remains poorly explored. Sampling methods included pitfall trapping and the direct e...

Microhabitat Preference of Coremiocnemis cunicularia and Chilobrachys andersoni in Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Posted by

 


Microhabitat Preference of Coremiocnemis cunicularia and Chilobrachys andersoni in Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

ABSTRACT 

The Theraphosidae, commonly known as tarantulas, is one of the families under the infraorder of Mygalomorphae. Untill today, information regarding the ecology of Theraphosidae in Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, has been lacking, particularly concerning their ecology and natural history. This study aimed to investigate and compare the microhabitat parameters of Chilobrachys andersoni and Coremiocnemis cunciularia in Pulau Pinang across six sampling sites from May 2022 to September 2022. Thirteen different microhabitat parameters related to the burrows of the Theraphosidae were examined to examine if the two tarantula species have specific microhabitat preference. The collected parameters data were analyzed using the chi-square test and T-test. The variations and similarities of the microhabitat parameters of Coremiocnemis cunicularia and Chilobrachys andersoni were illustrated using principal component analysis (PCA) and non-metric multi-dimensional scaling (nm-MDS). It was shown that the type of trail near to the burrow, the height and diameter of the door entrance, soil and surrounding temperature, the distance of the burrow from the trail, plant species richness, and altitude difference between the burrows of Coremiocnemis cunicularia and Chilobrachys andersoni were statistically significant. PCA and nm-MDS analyses demonstrated that the habitat preferences of these two Theraphosidae species differed. In conclusion, this study contributed significant ecological knowledge regarding Theraphosidae, particularly on Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. Further studies on various aspects of Theraphosidae are important for improved conservation management in the future.

Razak, I., Shukor, M., Nasir, D. M., Wahab, A. Z., Hian, C. M., & Ahmad, A. (2026).
Microhabitat preference of Coremiocnemis cunicularia and Chilobrachys andersoni in Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. Sains Malaysiana, 55(3), 363–374. https://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2026-5503-01