Experts from the Institute of Zoology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences recently announced the discovery of a new species of crab and spider. Both were discovered during scientific research of Leye Dolines (tiankeng in Chinese, which is something similar to karst caves) of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The crab is the first one in China found living in caves.
The four 3-cm crabs were caught in the karst caves at the bottom of the Dashiwei Doline , the largest of the Leye Dolines. After comparing them with over 200 similar animal specimens, experts concluded the crab is a new species belonging to Potamon.
Chen Guoxiao, a crab expert of the Institute of Zoology, said this is the first time crabs were discovered in caves. Few reports have been heard about such cases in the world, so it is of great value to the scientific research of paragonimiasis in China.
According to Chen, these crabs have characteristics different from others because they must adapt to the darkness and get food in the caves.
There are six species in the Potamon of China, mainly scattering in Guangxi and Yunnan. The Chinese Potamon is also called medical crab, which is believed to be the host for paragonimiasis. The disease is endemic in south China. The discovery of new species of Potamon will play an important role in the study of distribution and spreading of the disease.
The spider has been confirmed as belonging to a new species. Such kinds of spiders usually live in a dark and humid environment. To effectively enlarge their activity sphere, they have feet 4-5 times longer than their bodies.
The two new species have been respectively named "Tiankeng (Doline) Chinese Crab" and "Zhang-family Spider".
The scientific research team has collected more than 100 animal species, most of which are still under identification. Because of the special geographical environment in the Leye Dolines, few people have been there. Many animals living there may not have been previously found.
The Chinese Academy of Sciences will organize another scientific research team to go there this autumn. They will conduct a thorough investigation of animal distribution.
(China.org.cn 06/12/2001)
