Those who are afraid of spiders will certainly not be pleased to learn that a new species of tarantula, the size of a human face, has been discovered in the north of Sri Lanka. It all began in 2009, when a dead arachnid of this new giant and poisonous species was handed over to scientists, who immediately set out on the trail of others of its kind "alive and well".
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
Anyone who is afraid of spiders will certainly not like to learn that a new species of tarantula has been discovered in Northern Sri Lanka, as big as a human face. It all began in 2009, when a dead arachnid of this new giant and poisonous species was handed over to scientists, who immediately set out on the trail of others of its kind "alive and well".
After extensive research among the trees of the country's forests, researchers from the Biodiversity Education and Research Organization they discovered a female and several young. The species is called Poecilotheria rajaei, has twenty centimeter long legs with yellow spots and a pinkish band around the body. "It has significant enough differences to separate it from other species," said Peter Kirk, director of the Tarantula Society ‘s Journal, who published a study describing the spider in December.
“They are quite rare. They prefer large old trees, but due to deforestation their numbers have shrunk due to lack of habitat and they have adapted to living in old buildings"added Ranil Nanayakkara, author of the discovery. It is not yet clear, however, to what extent the species is currently threatened.
According to Kirk, however, “this discovery demonstrates that wildlife continues to survive and is able to adapt to its changing habitat. But he also points out that risking destroying the habitats of species new to science condemns them to extinction before they are discovered “.
Roberta Ragni
ALSO READ:
- Peacock spider, the most beautiful spider in the world
- Unknown poisonous spiders invade India. Two dead