A group of scientists has discovered three new species of harmless spiders in the alpine area of australiaa country known not only for its curious animals such as kangaroos, koalas and platypuses, but also for its dangerous sharks and other highly venomous specimens.
“The discovery of the three new spiders in the Australian Alps is fantastic. Around three-quarters of Australia’s biodiversity has yet to be discovered by science,” Australia’s environment and water minister said on Thursday. Tanya Plibersek in a statement announcing the discovery.
Species discovered in the southeast of the country are a “warrior hunter” which has a kind of shield on its chest, which belongs to the family of the Sparassidae – a tiny jumping spider of 3 millimeters that recalls a licorice and for this reason it poses as a branch of a tree, reads the press release.
The find reflects Australia’s immense diversity, ranging ‘from the notorious shield hunter, with war paint on his legs and a shield on his chest to ward off predators, to tiny jumping spiders that they look like puppies with eight eyessaid Museum of Victoria Research Institute spider expert Joseph Schubert.
“Spiders too they are experts in camouflage. The Wrap Spider is a ferocious nocturnal minihunter who it disguises itself during the day as a branch of a tree hide from predators,” explained the expert who participated in this scientific expedition in the Australian Alps, located in the southeast of the oceanic country.
Australia is home to a wide variety of animal species including funnel web spiders (Atrax robustus) and that of red back (Latrodectus hasselti), considered among the most venomous in the world. EFE extension
Source: Clarin
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