Spider taxonomy: A historical and global perspective

Using comprehensive records from the World Spider Catalog, this study presents an in-depth, data-driven analysis of global trends in spider taxonomy, revealing an exceptional acceleration during the first quarter of the 21^st century. Of the more than 53 000 extant spider species described since 1757, 19 159—approximately 36%—were described during the last 25 years. In 59 families, the number of new species described during this period exceeded the total accumulated over the entire 20^th century. Asia emerged as the leading continental hotspot for spider discovery, with China at the forefront. The number of species described in China during the 25-year window was 1.5 times greater than the combined total documented over the preceding 243 years, with Chinese arachnologists responsible for 23.9% of all new species described in the last 25 years. Three taxonomists—Eugène Simon, Norman Platnick, and Shu-Qiang Li—rank as the most prolific contributors to spider systematics in history. These findings reflect a shift in the global center of arachnological research and underscore the growing scientific output from China. Patterns were examined from three complementary angles: temporal acceleration in species descriptions, individual contributions of leading taxonomists, and the emergence of Chinese arachnology as a dominant force in global taxonomy. Our analysis also emphasizes the critical role of sustained international collaboration in advancing biodiversity discovery.