| Khorata | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Pholcidae |
| Genus: | Khorata Huber, 2005 [1] |
| Type species | |
| K. khammouan Huber, 2005 | |
| Species | |
51, see text | |
Khorata is a genus of Asian cellar spiders that was first described by B. A. Huber in 2005. [2]
As of July 2025, the genus includes 54 species: [3] [1]
In 2025, scientists from China described a new species of Khorata, named Khorata qianlei, discovered in Guangxi province. This brought the total number of known species in the genus to 54. In the same study, the researchers proposed dividing the genus into nine species groups, to better organize the diversity of forms observed within Khorata. [3]
These groups were created based on the shape and arrangement of certain body parts involved in reproduction, which differ slightly between species. For example, some species have unique spines, hooks, or plates on their reproductive organs, which help distinguish them from others. This new classification helps scientists better understand the evolutionary relationships between species in Khorata and improves the tools for identifying them, which is important for studying biodiversity in Asia's forests and cave. [3]