Discovery of three new species of Thiratoscirtus (Araneae: Salticidae: Thiratoscirtinae) from Central African rainforest

Researchers have discovered three new species of jumping spiders, Thiratoscirtus iyomii, T. kalisia, and T. khonvoum, within Salonga National Park, the largest tropical rainforest reserve in Africa. These findings represent the second documented report of spider collections from this UNESCO World Heritage Site, highlighting its rich biodiversity. The species were identified during a rapid biodiversity inventory conducted on the forest floor, emphasizing the importance of such surveys in uncovering hidden diversity in protected areas.

PETT, B. L., IYOMI, D. M. M., & MBENDE, M. (2024). Discovery of three new species of Thiratoscirtus (Araneae: Salticidae: Thiratoscirtinae) from Central African rainforest. Zootaxa, 5399(2), 155–162. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5399.2.4