New spider species discovered in Cuba

According to a reporter in La Habana, a group of researchers from Masaryk University (Czech Republic) and the Cuban Zoological Society discovered a new species of spider belonging to the genus Trichopelma in western Cuba, with a large size and hairy legs.

A new spider species belonging to the genus Trichopelma, discovered in western Cuba. (Photo: EFE).

The study, published in the Journal of Natural History, also highlights the unique biodiversity of the Greater Antilles islands, which include Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica and Puerto Rico.

The natural conditions of this island group encourage the evolution of highly endemic species, especially spiders. In the study, scientists extracted and sequenced the DNA of the new spider species to determine its position within the genus Trichopelma.

The study found that adult males of the new species have long hairs on their legs. The spider's abdomen has a striking pattern of spots and six horizontal stripes. Its body is "adorned" with chestnut-brown hairs, revealing a smooth, dark mid-back. Its head is also larger than that of other species in the genus.

The new spider was discovered in Viñales National Park , a biodiversity hotspot in western Cuba. Four spiders were found within a 20-kilometer radius, suggesting the species has a very restricted distribution. With such a limited distribution, the species could become very rare and make conservation difficult, according to scientists.

So far, researchers have discovered a total of 11 species of spiders belonging to the genus Trichopelma in Cuba. They differ from other spiders in a number of ways, such as being hairier, larger, and having two lungs.