A new electric-blue tarantula species of the genus Chilobrachys Karsh, 1892 from Thailand (Araneae, Mygalomorphae, Theraphosidae)

By

Chomphuphuang, Narin
Sippawat, Zongtum
Sriranan, Patipan
Piyatrakulchai, Paveen
Songsangchote, Chaowalit

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2023

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

1180

Pages

105--128

Subjects

Arboreal theraphosid , Habitat , mangrove forests , mountainous , rainforests

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1180.106278

 

Abstract

The enchanting phenomenon of blue coloration in animals arises from the fact that blue is one of the rarest colors found in nature, and it is a structural color that is produced by the arrangement of biological photonic nanostructures, rather than pigments. This unique coloration has evolved independently in many different species, adding to the fascination and diversity of coloration patterns in the animal kingdom. This study describes a new species of Chilobrachys Karsch, 1892 from southern Thailand that exhibits a blue-violet hue resembling the color of electrical sparks. Photographic illustrations, a morphological description, and the natural habitat of the new species are given. The diagnosis, palpal-bulb structures, spermathecae, and stridulatory organ morphology of related species are discussed.