Aussie scientists uncover 40 new spider species in six months
Two intrepid Australian researchers have discovered up to 40 new species of spider in Queensland.
Australian researchers have discovered up to 40 new species of spider in Queensland.
Dr Jeremy Wilson and Dr Michael Rix of the Queensland Museum Network have spent the last six months collecting 136 specimens of burrowing wishbone spiders across the state.
The pair are working on a year-long project to revise Australian wishbone spiders and have been surprised by the diversity they have found in eastern Australia, including 40 new species of spider in Queensland alone.
Dr Wilson said the spiders exhibit a variety of different silken burrows and occur in different habitats.
“As well as discovering this incredible diversity, prior to the fieldwork we didn’t really understand the amazing variety of behaviours exhibited by wishbone spider species in Queensland, with the spiders constructing a variety of different silken burrows and occurring in different habitats” he said.
Wishbone spiders are burrowing spiders that live throughout dry and tropical regions throughout Australia.
The name is derived from the two entrances to their burrows – a main entry and a second hidden entrance that the spider uses as an escape chute which give the burrow a Y-shape like a wishbone.
Wishbones generally don’t have a life-threatening bite, though their long fangs may cause a deep and painful wound.
The research was funded by a Postdoctoral Fellowship Grant as part of the Australian Biological Resources Study National Taxonomy Research Grants Program in 2022.
Dr Wilson and Dr Rix will continue to collaborate on the project, which aims to perform a complete taxonomic revision of Australia’s most diverse genus of mygalomorph spiders.
“This is an amazing project to be a part of, with a principal aim of performing a complete taxonomic revision of Australia’s most diverse genus of mygalomorph spiders,” Dr Rix said.
“Using molecular sequencing we will be able to study the evolution of the group across Australia, which is very exciting.”
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