A team of researchers from the University of Santo Tomas (UST), in collaboration with Romblon State University (RSU) and the Theraphosid Research Team in Germany, has discovered a new species of tarantula in Romblon.
The newly identified species, Selenobrachys ustromsupasius, is named in honor of multiple Philippine research institutions, including UST, RSU, Mindanao State University Iligan Institute of Technology, University of the Philippines Diliman, and the Philippine Arachnological Society, Inc.
The discovery was detailed in the study “Taxonomic revalidation of Selenobrachys Schmidt, 1999 and Chilocosmia Schmidt & von Wirth, 1992 based on morphological and molecular analyses (Araneae, Theraphosidae), with the description of a new species from Romblon Island, Philippines”, which was published in the international journal ZooKeys on March 31, 2025.
Using an integrative approach combining morphology, biogeography, and molecular biology, the researchers were able to describe the tarantula species and resolve taxonomic issues related to the genera Selenobrachys and Chilocosmia, which have now been reclassified under the genus Orphnaecus.
Beyond taxonomy, the team is also exploring the potential therapeutic applications of spider venom.
The research is part of a Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-funded program called GAGAMBA (Gamot Mula sa Gagamba at Mananaliksik ng Bayan), which aims to identify bioactive compounds in spider venom for possible medical use.
The study was conducted by UST researchers Darrell C. Acuña, Maria Mikaela U. Dumbrique, Lorenz Rheum P. Ragasa, Charles Nylxon C. Noriega, Assoc. Prof. Myla R. Santiago-Bautista, PhD, Asst. Prof. Leonardo A. Guevarra, Jr., MSc, and Asst. Prof. Maricel C. Rañido, PhD. They were joined by Anna Beatriz R. Mayor, Gregorio Antonio Florendo Jr., and Mary Jane A. Fadri of Romblon State University, along with Volker von Wirth of the Theraphosid Research Team in Germany.
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