During an expedition in the Australian Alps, researchers discovered three previously unknown species of spiders. Among the mysterious eight-legged friends is a huntsman spider (giant crab spider), which camouflages itself as a warrior and belongs to the genus Neosparassus, according to a group of botanists and zoologists around the spider researcher Joseph Schubert.
The spider wears “war paint on its legs and a shield on its chest to deter predators,” Australian broadcaster ABC quoted the arachnologist as saying. The Huntsman spider is not poisonous to humans.
Wrapping spider disguised as a branch
The other discoveries include a jumping spider just three millimeters in size that looks like “a puppy with eight eyes”, and a writhing spider that disguises itself as a branch. “The writhing spider is a feral nocturnal mini-hunter that disguises itself as a branch during the day to hide from predators,” explains Schubert. Spiders are very diverse, he added.
Found at “Blutz Bush” expedition
As part of the “Bush Blitz” expedition, 15 scientists from different research institutes spent 11 days in remote areas of the Australian Alps. The mountain ranges lie in the highest part of the Great Dividing Range between the states of New South Wales and Victoria.
“Discovering and documenting undescribed species is critical to their conservation and can prevent ‘invisible’ species from becoming extinct before they are even documented,” Schubert wrote on Twitter. “If a species is not known, it cannot be adequately protected.”
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek described the finds as “fantastic”. Programs such as ‘Bush Blitz’ would help develop a better understanding of Australia’s habitats to help make environmentally conscious decisions for the future. “About three-quarters of Australia’s biodiversity is still awaiting discovery by science,” the minister wrote on Twitter. “But now we can add three more to the list.”
Source: Krone
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