Joining the dark side: waterfall spiders in subterranean habitats, with the description of a new genus and two new species from Brazil (Araneae: Trechaleidae)

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  Joining the dark side: waterfall spiders in subterranean habitats, with the description of a new genus and two new species from Brazil (Araneae: Trechaleidae) Abstract Trechaleidae is a family of spiders often recognized by its semiaquatic species, but its diversity extends beyond these well-known examples. In this study, we describe Troglotrechalea gen. nov. , a new genus with two novel species, T. faleroae spec. nov. and T. agorai spec. nov. , found exclusively in subterranean habitats within karst formations in central and southeastern Brazil. Both species exhibit pale coloration, but unmodified eyes and legs if compared to other species in the family. The slight degree of troglomorphism, along with their geographic and habitat records, suggests that these species are restricted to hypogean habitats, although they probably move through epigean habitats. Additionally, we report in detail the occurrence of the trechaleid genera Enna O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897, Heidrunea Brescovi...

Systematic revision of Dongmoa Roewer (Arachnida: Opiliones: Podoctidae), with reassignment of two Chinese species from Bonea and description of a new species from Vietnam

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Systematic revision of Dongmoa Roewer (Arachnida: Opiliones: Podoctidae), with reassignment of two Chinese species from Bonea and description of a new species from Vietnam

ABSTRACT

A new species of the genus Dongmoa Roewer is described from Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam, with its intricate external morphology examined using micro-CT scanning. Until now, Dongmoa included only two species, one from northern Vietnam and another from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan. Here, we provide a revised diagnosis of the genus, with detailed comparisons to the closely related genera Bonea and Erecanana. In addition, two species from Hainan Island, China, previously assigned to Bonea, are transferred to Dongmoa, increasing the total number of recognised species in the genus to five. This study represents the first modern systematic treatment of Dongmoa, substantially refining the traditional Roewerian framework and enabling a clearer delimitation of species distributed across Indochina and Japan. Moreover, the recognition of a previously overlooked but variable morphological structure, here called the insula lunata, highlights its potential relevance for taxonomy within Podoctidae, providing the basis for future phylogenetic studies.

Kury, A. B., Machado, G., & Pham, D. S. (2026). Systematic revision of Dongmoa Roewer (Arachnida: Opiliones: Podoctidae), with reassignment of two Chinese species from Bonea and description of a new species from Vietnam. Journal of Natural History, 60(17–20), 1005–1024. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2026.2650134