Researchers have discovered over fifty new spiders species in Australia, and one of these newly found species includes a spider as big as a dinner plate. Other spiders include one that knows the art of dancing to attract a mate and a tarantula which goes “scuba diving” to catch its prey. The area where these arachnids have been spotted was never surveyed before.
According to researchers, these new species have been found in Queensland Australia’s Cape York Peninsula. Specifically, the expedition was conducted on Quinkan country, near Cooktown. This was the first time that this area was biologically surveyed.
The 10-day research trip was carried out by government-funded Bush Blitz, an ecological research group that was established four years ago and has discovered nearly 1,200 new species, including about 200 spiders, since then. Twenty three researchers and indigenous rangers worked together to find the spider species in this area that was only accessible via helicopter. The project was also funded by BHP Billiton and Earthwatch.
During the trip, researchers found a new species of huntsman spider with size no less than a dinner plate. A big black brush-footed trap-door spider was also found. This black spider can walk up glass doors and appears like a funnel web spider. A peacock spider that lures a mate by dancing was also discovered. Other spiders include a new species of swift spider, with fuzzy white and black front legs. Scientists are not formally classifying the new arachnids.
According to Dr Barbara Baehr, a research biologist at the University of Queensland, the area where the new spider species were discovered is rich in terms of ecology. It was green and thriving after a successful wet season, and this was the reason why researchers were able to discover so many new species in just 10 days. She says the fauna in the area is “just blooming” and there are “so many spiders up there.”
“It’s so vibrant – so many spiders are out there,” she told Guardian Australia. “When you just cup leaf-litter together, it’s crazy.”
Baehr is particularly interested in the peacock spider, which displays “a wonderful courtship behavior, like dancing” to lure their mates. Baehr has described over 600 new spider species in her career.
According to Jo Harding, Bush Blitz manager, it was simply not possible to discover new species without assistance from the indigenous rangers and traditional owners who know this region very well.
Bush Blitz researchers are planning to survey an area in Australia’s Northern Territory later this year.
Australia a country where you can find some highly venomous spider species, including the Sydney funnel-web and the redback spiders with deadly bites. The most dangerous spiders found in Australia are the following:
- Sydney funnel-web (Atrax robustus)
- Other funnel-webs including northern tree funnel-web spider (Hadronyche formidabilis).
- Redback spider (Latrodectus hasselti)
- Mouse spider (Missulena sp.)
- Trap door spiders (Idiopidae family)
- White-tailed spiders (Lampona cylindrata and L. murina)
- Australian tarantulas
- Recluse spider (Loxosceles reclusa)
- Huntsman spiders (Sparassidae family)
- Common garden orb weaver spider
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