About Kankuamo marquezi Perafán, Galvis & Gutiérrez, 2016
Kankuamo marquezi is the only species in the monotypic tarantula genus Kankuamo, which belongs to the family Theraphosidae. This species was first formally described by Perafán, Galvis & Gutiérrez in 2016. It is found in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, specifically on the northwestern flank of this mountain range in Cuchilla San Lorenzo. It lives at altitudes between 2000 and 2300 meters above sea level, within the lower montane wet forest ecozone. The site where this spider was discovered is dominated by shrubs from the plant families Arecaceae and Chrysobalanaceae, and the area is also home to snakes of the genus Atractus and frogs of the genus Atelopus.
This spider is the first species found to have urticating hairs classified as type VII. These hairs are sword-shaped and bristly, and they work as a defense mechanism through stinging or stabbing. This differs from most other tarantula species, which typically defend themselves by throwing urticating hairs from a distance. In Kankuamo marquezi, these type VII urticating hairs cover the entire body. They have penetrating tips that can embed into skin or mucous membranes, causing severe irritation. Human exposure to these hairs often results in mild to severe skin irritation or rashes.
