New Funnel-Web Spider Species Discovered in Australia
Posted on September 9, 2015
A suspected new species of funnel-web spider has been discovered in Australia. The spider was found at Booderee National Park near Jervis Bay on the New South Wales south coast. The large spider is 50-millimeters long (about 2 inches).
The scientists believe the large funnel-web belongs to Hadronyche, a tree-dwelling genus of spiders. The discovery of the spider is part of a larger biodiversity study of the area.
Dr. Thomas Wallenius, from The Australian National University (ANU), says in the announcement, "It's remarkable that we have found this other species in Booderee National Park. It shows we still have a lot to learn about what's out there in the bush."
Dr. Wallenius found a female member of the new species in her lair in a rotting log. He says, "They build a silk-lined burrow inside the hollow log which can be up to two metres long. She had probably been living in there for 25 to 30 years."
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that genetic and morphological analysis will be needed to confirm the funnel-web is a new species.