Researchers have discovered a new species of spider in the Ecuadorian Amazon that looks very similar to a parasitic fungus.

研究人員在厄瓜多亞馬遜發現了一種新蜘蛛物種，外觀與一種寄生真菌非常相似。

The new species, named Taczanowskia waska, was found in the Llanganates-Sangay Corridor by experts from the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB). This spider is characterized by its pale color and long growths on its abdomen. These physical features allow the spider to mimic Gibellula, a parasitic fungus that usually infects and kills spiders.

這個新物種被命名為 Taczanowskia waska，由萊布尼茨生物多樣性變化分析研究所 (LIB) 的專家在 Llanganates-Sangay 走廊發現。這種蜘蛛的特徵是顏色較淡，且腹部有長長的生長物。這些身體特徵使該蜘蛛能夠模仿 Gibellula，這是一種通常會感染並殺死蜘蛛的寄生真菌。

This strategy provides two main evolutionary advantages. First, by looking like a dead, fungus-infected organism, the spider can discourage predators from attacking it. Furthermore, this camouflage helps the spider surprise and catch its prey. The discovery began on the citizen-science app iNaturalist, where photos of the spider led to a deeper investigation. Later, arachnologist Nadine Dupérré from the Museum of Nature Hamburg confirmed the species by comparing the specimen with historical records. Dupérré emphasized that combining public data, international teamwork, and museum collections greatly improves biodiversity research.

這種策略提供了兩個主要的演化優勢。首先，透過看起來像一個死亡且被真菌感染的生物，該蜘蛛可以阻止捕食者攻擊它。此外，這種偽裝有助於蜘蛛出其不意地捕捉獵物。這次發現始於公民科學應用程式 iNaturalist，該程式上的蜘蛛照片引發了更深入的調查。隨後，來自漢堡自然博物館的蛛形綱學家 Nadine Dupérré 透過將標本與歷史記錄進行比對，確認了該物種。Dupérré 強調，將大眾數據、國際團隊合作與博物館館藏相結合，能大大提升生物多樣性研究。

Taczanowskia waska is now officially recognized as the first spider known to mimic the Gibellula parasite to survive and hunt.

Taczanowskia waska 現在正式被認可為首種已知透過模仿 Gibellula 寄生菌來生存與狩獵的蜘蛛。