Jinyun three nest spiders. Hualong Network - New Chongqing client reporter Xie Peng photo
Hualong Network - New Chongqing Client May 6, 19:30 (Reporter Qin Sisi) Recently, the research team of Zhang Zhisheng of Southwest University found two new spider species for the first time in Jinyun Mountain, Beibei District, named after The Three-Litter Spider Trilacuna Jinyun Tong, Zhang & Li, 2021 and the Nine-Toothed Three-Lispot Spider Trilacuna Jiuchi Tong, Zhang & Li, 2021, adding new members to the world's spider species atlas.
Two new species are included in the "World Spider List"
Professor Zhang Zhisheng, doctoral supervisor of the School of Life Sciences of Southwest University, introduced that the team collected these two spider specimens in 2010, because the ovate spider is small, less than 3 mm, and the identification is difficult. Subsequently, after cooperating with the team of Professor Tong Yanfeng of Shenyang Normal University and Li Shuqiang, a researcher at the Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the two spiders were confirmed to be new species. The results were published in the European Journal of Taxonomy at the end of April this year, and two new species are also included in the World Spider List.
It is understood that most species of oval spiders are covered with hard shells on the surface, and the hard shells on the back of the abdomen and the ventral surface are called the dorsal plate and the web plate respectively, and the two are separated at the rear end on both sides, which is called the spider "wearing a cheongsam". The body is mostly orange and brown. Most species have 6 eyes, some species have 4 eyes or no eyes.
Professor Zhang Zhisheng, doctoral supervisor of the School of Life Sciences of Southwest University, is introducing jinyun three-nest spider. Hualong Network - New Chongqing client reporter Xie Peng photo
The oval spider mainly lives in the deciduous layer, under the bark, forest canopy and other environments, the diversity is very rich, currently known in the world 1883 species, China known 85 species, in Chongqing is currently known 4 species. Zhang Zhisheng said that the known spider diversity in Chongqing is extremely incompatible with the extremely complex landforms, humid and hot subtropical climate and rich plant diversity in Chongqing, and a large number of new species or endemic species in Chongqing will be discovered in the future, providing first-hand data for the investigation of Chongqing's local resources, better use of spider resources for biological control, spider silk and spider venom applications.
The collection of basic research provides parameters for biodiversity
"The formation of a species usually takes millions of years, and the discovery of two new spider species means that its growth environment has not undergone major changes, which is of great guiding significance for our research on biodiversity and ecological environmental protection." Zhang Zhisheng introduced that in simple terms, the food web is divided into three levels: producer, primary predator, and senior predator, while spiders are typical carnivores, which are in the middle and upper levels of the food web, which provides parameters for natural environment detection and local biodiversity conservation research.
Feed spiders with bread worms. Hualong Network - New Chongqing client reporter Xie Peng photo
When it comes to spiders, most people develop disgusting emotions. Zhang Zhisheng explained that in fact, everyone has a misunderstanding of spiders, spiders do not take the initiative to attack people, they will only attack when they are stimulated, and most of the venom of domestic spiders will not cause human death.
Zhang Zhisheng also has a nickname called "Spider-Man", since 2000, he has been dealing with spiders for more than 20 years, in his opinion, spiders are a treasure small animal, but everyone is frightened by its appearance. He introduced that there have been research calculations before, if there is a 1 cm thick spider silk, it is possible to intercept a jet, so in recent years, biological research on spiders has become a hot field of biological research, and the future will play an increasingly important role in agriculture, military, aerospace and other fields.
Professor Zhang Zhisheng is observing spiders with a microscope. Hualong Network - New Chongqing client reporter Xie Peng photo
"Everyone's impression of Spider-Man is that he can save humans, I don't have these superpowers, but I hope that through my efforts, everyone can understand spiders better, and I hope to promote spider research, and more research on spiders can be applied." Zhang Zhisheng said with a smile.
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