till Family Pelican Spiders Orchaiidae Araneomorphs are an iconic and morphologically bizarre group of spiderswith a modern variegated distribution in Australia, Madagascar and southern Africa, and a Deep global evolutionary history dates back to at least the Early Jurassic,
Both males and females have their own appearance, but they are similar in terms of their reddish-brown color and strange body shape, but A total of nine previously unknown specimens were found during the study,
However, This monophyletic tropical fauna is poorly documented in relation to other lineages Orchaiidae along the subtropical and temperate regions south of the Saint Lawrence Fault Many additional species are probably yet to be named,
Is this new species of spider found in Australia deadly?
It is necessary to mention it The authors of this study have named it a “killer” spider.not because there were cases of people dying, but for your behaviorWhich is generally similar to that of other spiders.
In other words, They catch and eat insects, “killing” them by manipulating them with their long legsslender and spear-shaped, according to a new study published in Australian Journal of Taxonomy,
The main characteristics of these samples
it is Australopithecus andersonii Or the Pentecost pelican spider. These killer arachnids are about 2.5 millimeters long and have two pairs of rudimentary horns.,
They also have hump-shaped protrusions on their bellies. What is impressive is how these arachnids contract and extend their legs. until they assume a gigantic form, with which they attack all their prey.
All these characteristics led experts to conclude that it was a new species The pelican spider, which had not yet been identified.
When this spider spreads its legs it can become ten times larger than normal, making it easier to hunt.
Australian scientists report that Australopithecus andersonii Lives on leaves on the floor of tropical forestsnot expanding to other places. Also, given its size, when the assassin spider is contracted it resembles a compact arachnid, but When their legs are extended, these arachnids can exceed 2.5 centimeters in length,
News Reference:
Rix M., Harvey M. A new species of pelican spider (Araneae: Arachnidae) from the Whitsunday hinterland of central-eastern Queensland. Australian Journal of Taxonomy (2024).
