A new large-sized species of Trapdoor spider has recently been discovered by Australian researchers in Queensland.
Researchers from the Queensland Museum have made a remarkable discovery – a super-sized species of trapdoor spider found only in the Brigalow Belt in Queensland, Australia. The new species, Euoplos Dignitas, is a type of golden trapdoor spider, and the females of this rare species can live for over 20 years in the wild and grow up to 5cm long, which is quite large in trapdoor spider terms. On the other hand, the males grow up to 3cm.
This species is not dangerous to humans, and its name means diversity or greatness in Latin, reflecting the impressive size and nature of the spider.
Euoplos Dignitas lives in open woodland habitats, building its burrows in black soil. The females spend their lives underground, while males leave to find a mate in another burrow after five to seven years.
Unfortunately, much of its habitat has been lost due to land clearing, making it likely to be an endangered species. Very few specimens of this species have been collected in recent decades, with only a single female submitted to the Queensland Museum since the 1960s.
A three-day search in May 2021 revealed just one population along several hundred metres of a roadside verge, with most available habitat cleared for agriculture and stock. The continuing decline of such habitats may render the species “critically endangered” in the future. This finding highlights the importance of preserving natural habitats and conserving biodiversity.
This discovery is significant not only because it represents a new species of spider, but also because it underscores the importance of maintaining and preserving natural habitats. Unfortunately, habitat loss is a significant challenge for many species worldwide.
Habitat loss can lead to population declines and, in some cases, species extinction.
The writer used AI tools to publish part of this article. The Brag Media relies on journalists to fact check & edit all articles regardless of any AI tools used.
