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China’s Guizhou Province has long been known for its remarkable biodiversity, but a recent study in Zoosystematics and Evolution has shed light on some of its creepier, lesser-known inhabitants: pirate spiders.
What is a pirate spider?
The name ‘pirate spiders’ refers to species belonging to the family Mimetidae. Also known (misleadingly) as cannibal spiders, they earned their name because of their araneophagic (spider-eating) nature.
These eight-legged predators don’t spin webs to catch prey; instead, they infiltrate the webs of other spiders and mimic the vibrations of prey or potential mates, then ambush the unsuspecting hosts when they come to investigate.
A recent research paper by Zhang et al. offers the most comprehensive survey to date of the pirate spider genus Mimetus in Central Guizhou, including two new species, bringing the provincial total to eight and giving Guizhou the highest Mimetus diversity in China.
Mimetus sinicus.
China’s new species
Mimetus guiyang
Discovered in Guiyang City, this species is known only from females collected via pitfall traps. Its most distinctive feature is the presence of large bubble-shaped ossified hair bases on the abdomen, a rarity among known Mimetus species. Its genital morphology and body patterns make it easily distinguishable from close relatives.
Mimetus lanmeiae
Also found in Guiyang, this species was observed perched on a spider web, likely in the act of mimicry. Its unique palpal structures and small body size (~2.14 mm) distinguish it from other known Mimetus species. The name of the species honours the mother of the specimen collector. Hopefully this was meant as a compliment.
Other findings
- New records: The researchers recorded two previously known species (M. caudatus and M. sinicus) for the first time in Guizhou, expanding their known range.
- Rediscovery and redescription: M. caudatus, previously known only from male specimens, now has its female described in detail.
- Molecular insights: DNA barcoding (COI gene sequencing) was used to support species identification and match males and females – a critical step for accurate taxonomy, especially given the subtle differences between males and females in Mimetus.
Original source
Zhang J, Zhang H, Liu J, Yu H, Xu X (2025) A survey of mimetid spiders (Araneae, Mimetidae) from Central Guizhou Province, China. Zoosystematics and Evolution 101(2): 711-734. https://doi.org/10.3897/zse.101.146895
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