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Name : Hairy gargantuan European wolf spider ( Trichopelma grande )
Where it lives : Western Cuba
Trichopelma grande,the newly discovered tarantula species with extremely hairy legs.
What it eats : Insects , lizards , frog and other small reptiles
Why it ’s awesome :
Arachnophobes may not appreciate the find of a never - before - seen " giant " tarantula species , but for fans of these misunderstood creatures , Trichopelma grandeis a extra find . Not only is it larger and hairy than other spider in its genus , it is the only kind with farseeing , downy , " feather - duster " stage .
The new tarantula species, T. grande.(Image credit: David Ortiz)
T. grandewas first reveal in 2008 in Viñales National Park , a biodiversity hotspot in western Cuba . So far , only four specimens have been spy : Three adult male person and one juvenile male person , all find in cakehole - door burrow on the dry land .
TheTrichopelmagenus is made up of 23 coinage , with members all being very small tarantula . As its name intimate , T. grandeis the big experience member of the genus with a body distance ranging from 0.33 to 0.44 inches ( 8.4 to 11.2 millimetres ) . However , the wanderer ’s most recognizable feature is its unusually hairy wooden leg .
Hairy peg are typically assort with Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree - dwell Lycosa tarentula — called arboreal tarantula — so this feature is very strange for a earth - dwelling species .
Close up image showing features of T. grande.(Image credit: David Ortiz)
David Ortiz , a researcher at Masaryk University in Czechia and go generator ofthe study describing the species , tell having long , hirsute legs may aid the tarantulas defend themselves against vulture like birds or snake in the grass .
‘Feather duster’ legs
" The feather - duster leg are even more interesting , and might be associated with vulture deterrence — the hairier the more telling , " Ortiz order Live Science in an email . " This might be peculiarly useful for males , because they have a ' spider ' way of life , unlike female person , who continue in their burrow almost at all times . female person might not be as hairy as males , but we are not certain yet . But these are just hypotheses . "
Related : When accentuate , these male spiders court mates with empty ' take - out containers ' instead of dinner party
Having more pegleg whisker in all likelihood also increases the wanderer ’s sensitiveness to external stimulus , such as air currents , which helps them find the movement of predators and target . Being larger may also help the spiders to capture food , such as dirt ball , frogs , lizards and other small reptiles .
The trap door burrow of T. grande.(Image credit: David Ortiz)
— We now sleep with why tarantulas are haired — to stop ground forces emmet eating them alive
— deathly virile funnel shape - entanglement wanderer ' Hercules ' time out record as biggest ever hear
— 3 remarkable spiders : A vegetarian , a vampire and a predator that use ' chela , fork and primal '
These tarantulas likely are n’t dangerous to man . " Tarantulas commonly have a very meek confidence trick , belike less brawny than a bee sting . I carry the same from this species , " Ortiz say .
The males are roving and give up their homes to look for females to couple with . As of yet , no female tarantulas of this metal money have been discovered , so less is have a go at it about their behavior .
" I believe that such a unique species merit to be examined more deeply , " Ortiz say . " The Viñales National Park is specially under threat by human action ( e.g. , tree logging ) and by utmost weather event like hurricane . The valley of Viñales is deeply disturbed , and only woodland plot of land remain unswayed in the mogotes ( hills ) and sierras scattered along the vale . "
