New spider species in the Amazon mimics parasitic fungus

The discovery was made in the Llanganates-Sangay Corridor, one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth. During a night-time expedition, the animal was initially mistaken for a mushroom - a clear indication of the new species’ remarkable camouflage strategy.

Disguise through form and behaviour

Taczanowskia waska mimics the fruiting body of a fungus of the genus Gibellula, which grows on spiders. It is characterised by elongated structures on its abdomen and a pale, fungus-like surface. Furthermore, the spider remains motionless on the underside of leaves – exactly where this fungus is typically found.

This combination of physical appearance and behaviour suggests a high degree of adaptation. The researchers believe that this mimicry serves both to protect the spider from predators and to aid in hunting: by appearing to be an uninteresting object, the spider is less likely to be spotted and can more easily take its prey by surprise.

A completely unique case

According to the study, this is the first documented case of a spider mimicking a parasitic fungus that infects its own kind. The discovery therefore provides new insights into the evolution of mimicry and the ecological role of such adaptations.

The genus Taczanowskia is considered rare and little studied. Many aspects of its ecology remain largely unknown – partly because members of this group are rarely observed in the wild.

Nadine Dupérré from the Museum of Nature Hamburg at the LIB was involved in the study. She examined reference specimens from scientific collections and contributed to the taxonomic classification of the new species.

Citizen science as starting point

The discovery began with an observation on the iNaturalist platform. Users identified what was thought to be a mushroom as a spider, and it was subsequently examined scientifically. The discovery underscores the importance of citizen science for biodiversity research.

‘Finds like these demonstrate the value of scientific collections. They enable us to classify new species and compare them with historical specimens. Combined with international collaboration and citizen science, this opens up new opportunities for researching biodiversity,’ explains Nadine Dupérré.

The discovery highlights the rich biodiversity of tropical regions, much of which remains unexplored. At the same time, it demonstrates the importance of international cooperation and new data sources for understanding global biodiversity.

Publication

Díaz-Guevara, David R., Alexander G. Bentley & Nadine Dupérré. 2026. “The Cordyceps spider”: Taczanowskia waska sp. nov. (Araneae: Araneidae), a new spider species and a novel case of mimicry of an araneopathogenic fungus (Cordycipitaceae: Gibellula). Zootaxa5760(5): 563-576. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5760.5.4