Recently, the research team led by Zhang Zhisheng from Southwest University published an article about two new species of Pimoidae spider in Acta Arachnologica Sinica. One of the species was found in Chongqing Wulipo National Nature Reserve, Yaocai Village, Zhuxian Township, and is named Pimoa Wulipoensis Irfan Wang & Zhang.
The Pimoidae spider family is found chiefly on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and its surrounding area, and Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and areas along the Hengduan Mountains are home to a variety of its species.
The dorsal view of Pimoa Wulipoensis Irfan Wang & Zhang (Photo provided to iChongqing)
"The new species we found in Wulipo indicate that some endemic species formed as a result of eastward movement of Hengduan Mountains and the southern face of Qinling Mountains are preserved in this region. The finding further demonstrates that fruitful results have been made in environmental protection of the region." According to Zhang Zhisheng, a doctoral supervisor of the School of Life Sciences of Southwest University, only one male specimen of the new species was found in this collection, and specimens of female spiders have not yet been collected.
He said that the team would visit Wulipo again this autumn and winter to collect female specimens. While trying to collect the female specimens, the team will also search for more new species and endemic species and strive for a lucid exposition about the spider biodiversity of Wulipo.
Chongqing Wulipo National Nature Reserve (Photo provided to iChongqing)
Zhang Zhisheng has been dealing with spiders since 2000. He is nicknamed "Spider-Man". During his field trip, Zhang Zhisheng has seen many incredible spiders: the body size of the largest ones is about five or six centimeters in diameter, not counting their legs. That is to say, such spiders are as large as a human hand if counting their legs. The smallest ones are a bit larger than the edge of a fingernail, and such spiders cannot be spotted if no careful attention is paid.
Speaking of spiders, most people feel disgusted. Zhang Zhisheng explained that, in fact, people have a misunderstanding about spiders. They never get aggressive towards humans unless they are irritated. In China, the venom of most spiders does not cause human death.
The tentacle photo of female Pimoa Wulipoensis Irfan Wang & Zhang: A. medial view; B. lateral view; C. back view; D. ventral view (Photo provided to iChongqing)
To him, the spider is an adorable bug. He said that according to the calculation of previous studies, a strand of 1-cm-diameter spider silk is strong enough to intercept a jet plane. So in recent years, biological research on spiders has become popular. In the future, such research will play an increasingly important role in many fields, including agriculture, military, and aerospace.