A new and rare giant spider has been discovered in Brisbane, Australia.

The spider Euoplos dignitas was discovered by researchers participating in the Queensland Museum’s DIG program, which aims to advance our understanding of biodiversity in the state.

Lead researcher Dr. Michael Ricks was first struck by the size of the spider. Females can live for over 20 years in the wild, and their bodies, where their long legs begin, can be up to five centimeters long.

The new species, whose discovery was published in the Journal of Arachnology, plays an important role in the ecosystem by helping to limit insect populations.

The researchers found that the species is likely endangered due to its limited activity in a small area, as well as deforestation.

“We think they probably have a problem, but we need to do more research to better understand the scale of the problem,” Rix says.

According to Ricks, female spiders spend their lives underground, while the honey-red males leave the burrow after five to seven years to find a new mate in another burrow.

At night, spiders lie in wait at the entrance to their nest, waiting to grab flying insects.

Spiders use venom to neutralize their prey, but Ricks explained that they are not dangerous to humans. “The bites can be physically painful due to their size, but they are not dangerous,” he explained.

Source: Guardian