Khantao ya 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. 3) — living female KYUARA#2559. 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, Mengyang Township, Mangxuan 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

A noun in apposition from the Chinese yǎ (哑), "unable to vocalise", for the loss of the lyra and strikers in this species.

Specimen Records (3)

KYUARA#0568 ♀ Holotype China

Dehong, Lianghe County, Mengyang Township, Mangxuan Village, Yunnan

February 2022 · col. SZ

Holotype female of Khantao ya (MHBU).

KYUARA#0566-0567, #0569 ♀ Paratype China

Dehong, Lianghe County, Mengyang Township, Kazi Village, Yunnan

May 2021 · col. SZ

Paratypes of Khantao ya: two females and one juvenile.

KYUARA#0661 ♂ Paratype China

Dehong, Yingjiang County, Yousongling Township, Yunnan

April 2024 · col. YL

Paratype male of Khantao ya, raised and matured in captivity in August 2024. Photographed alive.

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.