Tarantulas in the Andes are far more diverse than we realise, yet almost nothing is known about how they evolved here. This project explores the Amotape–Huancabamba Zone between Ecuador and Peru, a key region where ancient landscapes shaped unique species. Through fieldwork, DNA, and morphology, we will reveal how these tarantulas originated, dispersed, and diversified in one of Earth’s most complex ecosystems.

We aim to test ancient Andean and pre-Andean dispersal routes in tarantulas.