Researchers Have Discovered A ‘Rare’ But ‘New’ Giant Spider Species In Queensland
Many know that Australia is infested with giant spider species and venomous snakes. But recently, researchers in Queensland have found a new species of giant trapdoor spider that they’ve labelled- “rare” and “secretive.”
The new giant spider species- Euoplos dignitas
The huge eight-legged arachnid is so impressive that it was given the name “Euoplos dignitas,” which means greatness or dignity in Latin.
Researchers have found that female spiders, which are usually bigger than males, can grow to be up to 5 cm long. Dr. Michael Rix, the Queensland Museum’s main spider expert, said: “It’s a big, beautiful species.”
The discovery of this rare giant spider species also gives credit to Project DIG, which helped with fieldwork, genetic research, and lab work for the research project.
This spider is only found in certain parts of Queensland
Only a few places around Eidsvold and Monto in Central Queensland have been found to have this species. Land clearing has taken away a lot of Euoplos dignitas’s habitat, so it is likely to be considered this giant spider species as endangered.
People sometimes mistake trapdoor spiders for funnel-web spiders, even though they are not as dangerous to humans.
Dr. Jeremy Wilson, who works at the Queensland Museum as a research assistant in arachnology, said:
“What I really love about the type of work we get to do here at the Queensland Museum.”
“You get to come into the collection and look through specimens from across Australia, and you just never know what you’re going to find.”
“When you then get to see that through to the end, which is giving a name to that species and knowing that that species is now known to everyone and can be protected.”