Khantao talpoides Yu, von Wirth, West, Zhang & Zhang, 2026

Described by Volker von Wirth, Rick C. West, Kun Yu, Shuyuan Zhang, Feng Zhang

♀ Female described ♂ Male described
Live specimen Live specimen © Yu et al. (2026, fig. 1) — living holotype female KYUARA#1791. Photo: Kun Yu

Type Locality and Records

Type locality

Original Description

Yu, K., von Wirth, V., West, R. C., Zhang, S. & Zhang, F. (2026). Khantao gen. nov., a new genus of Selenocosmiinae Simon, 1889 from western Yunnan of China (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Theraphosidae). Zootaxa 5853(2): 151-188.

Distribution

China

Type Locality: CHINA: Yunnan: Dehong, Lianghe County, Jiubao Township, Sanjia Village

Adult Male Activity

Collection months of 1 adult male specimen record, against the rainfall where they live

WinterSpringSummerAutumn121°10°JFMAMJJASOND10236mm0
Adult males collected

Mean monthly rainfall and temperature 2001–2020 near the type locality, 1358 m. MERRA-2 via NASA POWER. Northern hemisphere seasons.

Etymology

Latin adjective meaning "mole-like", for the impression the species gave the first author.

Specimen Records (3)

KYUARA#1791 ♀ Holotype China

Dehong, Lianghe County, Jiubao Township, Sanjia Village, Yunnan

October 2023 · col. YL

Holotype female of Khantao talpoides, and the name-bearing type of the genus. Photographed alive.

KYUARA#0560 ♂ Paratype China

Dehong, Lianghe County, Bangwai, Yunnan

July 2022 · col. YL

Paratype male of Khantao talpoides; source of the palpal bulb figures.

KYUARA#1797, #0795-0797 Paratype China

Dehong, Ruili, Mengxiu Township, Nanjingli Village, Yunnan

October 2024 · col. YL & AC

Paratypes of Khantao talpoides: one female collected 27 October 2024 and three males in July 2025.

Bibliography (1)

Yu, K., von Wirth, V., West, R. C., Zhang, S. & Zhang, F. (2026). Khantao gen. nov., a new genus of Selenocosmiinae Simon, 1889 from western Yunnan of China (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Theraphosidae). Zootaxa 5853(2): 151-188.