Chikunia

Chikunia is a genus of Asian comb-footed spiders that was first described by H. Yoshida in 2009.[2] These spiders are small, often dark or orange colored. This species can be found in solidarity, though they can also be found in colonies.[3]

Chikunia
Chikunia albipes
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Theridiidae
Genus: Chikunia
Yoshida, 2009[1]
Type species
Chikunia albipes
(Saito, 1935)
Diversity
3, see text

Colonies

The species C. bilde and C. nigra are unique for spiders, as they are capable of forming intra-species colonies, both spiders being each others closest relative. Both species care for their young, and are thought to do the same to their neighbor's young. These colonies can be around 100 strong, with each adult keeping a distinct territory inside the colony. Another question raised by this unique arrangement, is the fact that they are both genetically distinct species.[3][4]

Species

As of May 2020 it contains three species, found in Asia:[1]

See also

References
  1. "Gen. Chikunia Yoshida, 2009". World Spider Catalog Version 20.0. Natural History Museum Bern. 2020. doi:10.24436/2. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  2. Yoshida, H. (2009), "Three new genera and three new species of the family Theridiidae", in Ono, H. (ed.), The spiders of Japan with keys to the families and genera and illustrations of the species
  3. Smith, Cassandra; Cotter, Addie; Grinsted, Lena; Bowolaksono, Anom; Watiniasih, Ni Luh; Angarsson, Ingi (2019). "In a relationship: sister species in mixed colonies, with a description of new Chikunia species (Theridiidae)". academic.oup.com. doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zly083. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  4. University of London (2019). "New species of spider discovered with unusual social skills". Royal Holloway. Retrieved February 22, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)


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