A group of scientists from Chile has discovered a new species of venomous spider in the Maule Region, establishing the southernmost record in the country. Previously, it had only been seen in the Valparaíso and Metropolitan regions.
According to the study published in the Iberian Journal of Arachnology, this new spider is called Calathotarsus gigas, due to its size compared to its congeners. Specifically, it can reach up to ten centimeters when fully extended.
Calathotarsus gigas: A new species of venomous spider present in Argentina and Chile
Calathotarsus is a small genus of mygalomorph spiders, related to tarantulas, composed of only five species, two in Argentina and three in Chile.
Furthermore, this discovery positions this spider as species number 772 throughout Chile, with notable differences compared to the rest of the arachnids.
The study was based on a male specimen found dead in 2023, in the town of Las Rastras, Maule Region.
Behavior and habitat
This new spider inhabits a sclerophyllous forest, where they build a tubular burrow, about 30 cm deep, which they crown with a lid at the entrance.
As mentioned, this species had already been observed in other regions of Chile, and researchers expect it to become more visible in other parts of the country.
Spiders in Chile have been poorly studied, and there are very few specialists interested in them. Therefore, this discovery is of great importance.
Danger of the new species
According to the specialists, this spider has venom glands; however, the likelihood of being bitten by one of them is very low.
This is because females rarely leave their burrows, and males only emerge at certain times of the year to find a mate, significantly reducing contact with people. To date, no incidents of bites to humans by this spider have been reported.
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