They have discovered an incredible new tarantula, practically unique, but it is already in danger of extinction

Many spiders are in danger of extinction due to habitat destruction.

Spiders, and tarantulas in particular, inspire a certain terror among the general public. In fact, arachnophobia is so common that it even inspired JRR Tolkien to create the most famous work of fantasy in history: the lord of the rings. Specifically, the passages that refer to the story of Ella-Laraña, one of the most terrifying characters and who served to illustrate the cover image of this novella. Their webs are capable of producing music and their sizes are sometimes frightening, but spiders are the key to the environment and they also have one of the most beautiful and surprising systems of adaptation to the environment.

New spiders already in danger of extinction

A team of researchers from the University of Idaho and Millsaps published a paper in ZooKeys in which they explain that they have discovered a new species of tarantula in the forests of the Chiricahua Mountains in Arizona. This spider, named Aphonopelma jacobii in honor of their colleague Michael Jacobi, is distinguished by its ability to survive at high altitudes and withstand cold winters.

A. jacobii, a small black and gray tarantula with striking red hairs on its abdomen, belongs to the genus Aphonopelma, the most diverse tarantula species documented to date. The habitat of this new species, the Chiricahua Mountains, is a region famous for its unique and endemic biodiversity, meaning it is home to many species typical of the region.

Characterized by high altitude forests separated by deserts and lowland grasslandsThis area creates “islands in the sky”, which is why this region is known as an “archipelago” even though it does not have any islands. These isolated ecosystems have allowed the evolution of unique species such as A. jacobii.