Shaoguan, November 11 (Reporter Wang Jian) The Danxia Mountain Management Committee of Shaoguan City, Guangdong Province reported on the 6th that the Danxia Mountain National Park Biodiversity Research Project has new good news, and the Danxia Mountain Spider Diversity Investigation Team (hereinafter referred to as the "Investigation Team") has discovered a new species of spider - "Danxia Great Spotted Spider", which is a new species of spider found in Danxia Mountain after the Danxia Korat Spider.
The investigation team carried out spider research in Danxia Mountain (data map). Photo courtesy of Danxia Mountain Management Committee
According to the Danxia Mountain Management Committee, the investigation team has carried out field investigations in Danxia Mountain all year round, collected a large number of spider field specimens, and finally confirmed that this species is a new arachnid endemic species in Danxia Mountain, named "Danxia Great Spotted Spider".
According to the investigation team, at present, 34 species of spiders in 122 genera and 155 families have been investigated in Danxia Mountain, and there are still a large number of habitats to be investigated, a large number of specimens collected in the field to be identified, and it is expected that there will be exciting new discoveries.
According to the survey team, the biological distribution and evolution of the Danxia landform area in Danxia Mountain are significantly different from those of granite, karst and other landforms, and there is a unique Danxia flora, which conserves unique ecosystems and endemic species. The special "island effect" and "heat island effect" have caused dozens of vegetation types to develop from the top of the mountain to the valley, such as subtropical broad-leaved forest, coniferous forest, valley rainforest, cliff plants and cave plants, which provide a rich and diverse habitat environment for the survival of arachnidan species, and have great scientific, ecological and economic value for species conservation, domestication and application.
It is understood that the new Danxia giant spotted spider belongs to the spider genus of the Acanopodidae family, which is mainly distributed in southern China, often infested under the deciduous layer and mountain road gravel, and occasionally appears on tree trunks or walls at night. Compared with other genera of the family of Giant Spideridae in China, the species of Giant Spotted Spider has morphological characteristics such as large body size and slender feet, which are better distinguished from spiders of other genera.
According to the Danxia Mountain Management Committee, up to now, 41 new species have been discovered in the Danxia Mountain National Nature Reserve, of which two are newly discovered and named arachnids in Danxia Mountain. The existence of these endemic species further proves the importance of ecological and environmental protection in Danxia Mountain National Nature Reserve. At the same time, through the study of the ecological habits and living environment of these endemic species, we can better understand and grasp their life characteristics and evolutionary laws, and provide a more scientific basis for the protection and utilization of these species.
In addition, the discovery of these endemic species is also of positive significance for raising public awareness and attention to biodiversity. (ENDS)