48 New Ground-Hunting Spider Species Described in Australia's Arid Habitats

The recent report showed the newly described 48 ground-hunting spiders that are found in arid habitats in Australia. The small spiders are said to be nocturnal and fast-moving.

Australia is a place for different species of spiders. The reports showed that spiders are considered ancient animals that play a significant role in the ecosystem or environment.

The country has most of the venomous spiders, having about 10,000 species of spiders. One of the most dangerous spiders is the Sydney Funnel-Webs, which thrives in New South Wales.

48 Newly-Described Ground-Hunting Spider Species

(Photo : by Ian Waldie/Getty Images)
A spider in Australia. 48 newly-described ground-hunting spiders were reported in Australia that live in arid habitats. The said spiders are considered nocturnal and fast-moving. The paper amazingly described the 48 species of ground-hunting spiders that are named after experts, curators, scientists and people involved in the discovery of species.

Understanding the spider species is essential for conservation and protection efforts. With the increasing climate change, habitat loss and harmful chemical uses, the spider population is also threatened.

In a new report, researchers managed to describe 48 ground-hunting spiders belonging to the Miturgidae family. The said species are nocturnal and fast-moving.

The research findings were published in the Zootaxa journal entitled 'Revision of Australian ground-hunting spiders.'

Dr. Robert Raven, the study's lead author, explained that the newly-described species have a body length reaching up to 10 millimeters. The report added that there were only three known species that were first described.

The paper amazingly described the 48 species of ground-hunting spiders that are named after experts, curators, scientists and people involved in the discovery of species.

With the recent report, the researchers hoped that it could offer new insights into different spiders living in Australia, including their significant roles in biodiversity and ecosystems.

In addition, the description was made possible by experts and taxonomists who dedicated efforts to unearth and describe new species to science.

Also Read: Protecting Migratory Habitats Crucial For Endangered Thick-Billed Parrots, Research Shows

Ground-Hunting Spiders: More Facts About Their Species

According to reports, the ground-hunting spiders are found beneath rocks or underground, especially in woodlands or forest habitats. They spend their time inside their habitats and go around to hunt for potential food sources.

In hunting for prey, the nocturnal ground-hunting spiders prefer to look after prey on the ground rather than use their silk. In Australia, people can find ground-hunting spiders anywhere.

In addition, spiders play a crucial role on Earth. They help to control pests that are harmful to plants. With spiders, they are biocontrol to prevent the spread of diseases.

They can find food sources or partner by their sense of scent. In farming and research, also been observed that spiders can become an alternative to the use of pesticides.

Did you know? Spiders can have six to eight eyes. However, they can't look clearly due to poor eyesight. In addition, the trapdoor spiders are reportedly able to live up to 35 years.