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A new ‘rare and giant’ spider species found in Queensland has sent scientists into a spin but fears are growing they may soon be gone thanks to land clearing.
The nocturnal Euoplos dignitas were found inside trapdoors, about the size of a 50-cent piece, hidden in the soil around Eidsvold and Monto, west of Bundaberg, in central Queensland.
The newly discovered creature is not deadly to humans, however their bite can hurt and they can inject venom from its fangs – however the bite is not considered ‘medically significant’.
The females, at almost five centimetres in length, are bigger than the more colourful males, arachnologist Dr Michael Rix of Queensland Museum’s Project DIG team said.
The females spend their whole lives underground, unlike their more brightly coloured male counterparts, who spend at least some time above ground.
A new ‘rare and giant’ spider species (a female Euoplos dignitas is pictured) found in central Queensland’s Brigalow Belt is exciting scientists
Euoplos dignitas live inside what are called trapdoors (pictured) in woodland habitats
‘They’ve got these really cryptic trapdoors in these woodland habitats on the ground and most people wouldn’t even realise that they’re there,’ Dr Rix told the ABC.
He said the spider’s scientific name is an acknowledgement of its large size.
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‘Euoplos’ is a group of what are called ‘golden trapdoor spiders’, and ‘dignitas’ is a Latin word meaning dignity or greatness.
Euoplos dignitas spend the first five to seven years of their lives in burrows, then the males venture out to look for a mate by finding female burrows.
The males are what Dr Rix called a ‘honey-red colour’.
‘They’re really quite stunning,’ he said.
The females are darker and bulkier due to spending their lives below ground.
Male Euoplos dignitas’ (pictured) are more brightly coloured than their female counterparts
Scientists are concerned about the future of the Euoplos dignitas as the area they have been found in has been heavily cleared for agriculture and other uses.
‘They’re not very good at getting around the landscape and dispersing – for example, compared to a flying insect,’ Dr Rix said.
He added that they can take up to eight years to mature and start breeding and said further surveys needed to be done into them.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk
