22.07.2025, Schatz des Monats

Hidden in the remote Tepui formations of Ecuador, researchers from the LIB came across a small tarantula that differed significantly from all previously known species. What began as an expedition in 2024 to a scarcely explored high plateau developed into a scientific breakthrough: the discovered tarantula was so unusual in its morphology that it was described not only as a new species but also as a representative of a previously unknown genus - endemic to this unique region. Nadine Dupérré, Arachnologist at the Museum of Nature Hamburg, discovered the animal and demonstrates with this example how a treasure makes its way into our collection.

Here the expedition finds a species of spider (not our treasure of the month). They will find out later in the museum whether it is a new species.

A spider with extraordinary features - and a story

The animals were collected by pitfall traps or by hand from a rocky outcrops in the forest. “The male was particularly striking: it possessed large, pincer-like extensions on its chelicerae - a structure never before observed in this spider family. This morphological trait was so unique that we had to define a new genus,” recalls Dupérré. The spinnerets of both sexes also showed segmented structures, which clearly distinguish members of this family from all other groups. The discovery underscores the extraordinary biodiversity of the Tepui region, while it shares some similar plants composition as to the Guiana Shield, it harbours a completely independent evolutionary history. The researchers suspect that they collected hundreds of other potentially new species - many of which remain unidentified.

The new species belongs to the Mygalomorphae group, which includes tarantulas. It is relatively small but highly remarkable. The animals live in self-spun burrows, which they build between rocks or on exposed rocky surfaces in the forest. During the collection, the researchers were able to observe the animals in their natural habitat. The female spiders sat in the spun tubes at the edge of a rocky ledge.

Firstly, all the collected samples are placed under a microscope to determine exactly which species are involved.

From habitat to the collection: the journey of the spider

Back at the museum, the actual scientific work began. Initially, hundreds of spider samples were sorted according to external characteristics. Before the detailed analysis started, the genitalia - often the most important distinguishing feature in spiders - were compared with existing descriptions. The “World Spider Catalog” database assists researchers in systematically excluding known species. Eventually, it became clear: this spider belongs to no known species - and fits into no existing genus. It is a genuine new discovery.

Here Nadine Dupérré prints a label that adorns the glass in the collection with the provisional name Tepuithele nangaritza.

Now only a suitable name is missing: for this, the spider must first appear in a scientific publication to be officially labelled and included in the collection. If, as in our Treasure of the Month, it is an entirely new species, it can become a so-called “holotype” for the collection. Nadine Dupérré and her colleagues are suggesting the name Tepuithele nangaritza – incorporating the regions Tepui as well as Nangaritza, where the species was collected.

Each individual is placed in its own tube of ethanol and labelled with the collection information.

Before an object becomes part of the collection, it undergoes a careful preparation process. The spider is preserved in 70 percent ethanol to maintain its delicate structures. Labelling is done on special archival paper that withstands decades of storage in alcohol. All data - collection site, date, permit, involved persons - are entered into the digital collection database, making it available to researchers worldwide for further study.

Here we see the jar with all the samples and a red label indicating the "paratype".

From discovery to responsibility

In biological systematics, the designation of a “holotype” - a single specimen that represents a newly described species - is a crucial step. According to Ecuadorian regulations, the holotype is archived in the country of origin, while “paratypes” (additional specimens of the same species) remain in our collection. However, the significance of this discovery goes far beyond taxonomy. The habitat of this spider is acutely threatened by mining activities. “It was devastating,” recalls Nadine Dupérré. “The rivers and forests are destroyed. If this habitat is lost, the species will disappear - along with its entire evolutionary history.”

Scientific collections act as time capsules in such cases: they preserve organisms, their genetic information, and ecological contexts for the future. This form of documentation can - especially in cooperation with local communities and foundations - influence concrete conservation decisions. Dupérré is familiar with such examples. In an earlier project, her LIB colleague Elicio Tapia discovered a frog species long thought lost in Ecuador - and through collaboration with a local foundation, a planned mining project was halted. This shows that scientific collections are not only archives but can also be tools for protecting biodiversity.

Preserving knowledge - protecting species

The curation process is not the end of the journey for an object. The accessible documentation allows other researchers to genetically classify the species, compare related species, or study the habitat again. Behind every object in a natural science collection lies a process full of curiosity, care, and responsibility. Nadine Dupérré has ensured through her work that a tiny spider is not only documented but preserved. Those interested in learning more about the exciting work processes in our collections can visit the current special exhibition at the Museum of Nature Hamburg: “The Museum Makers” explores our treasure chambers in detail until 17 November 2025.

Here is a video summary of all the steps involved in collecting the treasure of the month:

Nadine Dupérré

Technical Assistance

Phone: +49 40 238317 611
E-Mail: n.duperre@leibniz-lib.de

Treasure of the Month: A Tiny Tarantula with Great Scientific Importance

Here is a video summary of all the steps involved in collecting the treasure of the month:

Scientific contact

Nadine Dupérré