30 new species of spider spotted in Xishuangbanna tropical rain forests in China

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have spotted 30 new species of spider in Xishuangbanna tropical rain forests in China.

Located in the southern part of Yunnan in China, Xishuangbanna tropical rain forests are home to over 10 thousand species consisting of both tropical and subtropical plants.

The scientists believe that there are still many species to be found in this biodiversity hotspot.

Shuqiang Li from Chinese Academy of Sciences was quoted as saying: “The amazing biological diversity we have witnessed during our work on spiders in Huladao is perhaps only a part of what Xishuangbanna tropical rain forests hold”.

Covering only about 200 hectare of Xishuangbanna, the Huludao area has yielded a collection of approximately 700 spider species till now.

There are still around 100 new spider species to be published soon, Li said.

Xishuangbanna is well-known for its rich biodiversity and is one of the few places in China that still maintains large tracts of tropical rain forest.

The study was published in the journal ZooKeys.

(With Agency inputs)