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Judi Lynn

(160,076 posts)
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 12:47 AM Jun 2014

A new spider species with amazing camouflaging abilities has been discovered

A new spider species with amazing camouflaging abilities has been discovered
ScienceAlert Staff
Tuesday, 24 June 2014

A spider that encrusts itself in dirt was found lurking in the tropical rainforests of Veracruz, in eastern Mexico.


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Image: Jorge I. Mendoza/UNAM[/font]

A previously unknown species of spider belonging to the genus Paratropis has been discovered in the tropical rainforest in Veracruz, eastern Mexico, in the natural reserve La Estación de Biología Tropical “Los Tuxtlas”.

According to the researchers from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de México, this is the first North American record of this family found in the tropical Americas. Other members of this genus have been found in Brazil, Venezuela, Peru, Panama and the West Indies.

Named Paratropis tuxtlensis, the spider is a master of camouflage. It covers its entire body with soil particles that stick to it, forming an armour-like ‘disguise’ that keeps them safe from potential predators. The spider, the researchers explained in a news release, "has glandular pores that excrete a sticky secretion to help stick the soil particles to its body".

The brownish-red spider with olive markings on its legs doesn’t burrow, it just hides under rocks and in the soil, waiting patiently for prey to come by.

More:
http://www.sciencealert.com.au/news/20142406-25726.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencealert-latestnews+%28ScienceAlert-Latest+Stories%29

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This image shows the soil particles encrusted body of an adult male Paratropis tuxtlensis.
Credit: Jorge I. Mendoza [/font] [/center]
June 23, 2014
A new spider species from Mexico uses soil particles for camouflage
11 hours ago

Scientists discover and describe a new species of spider from Mexico. The new species belongs to the enigmatic family Paratropididae that is distinguished by representatives who possess unique camouflaging abilities. The study was published in the open access journal ZooKeys.

Like all species form the family the new species Paratropis tuxtlensis has its entire body encrusted with soil particles. The encrusted soil on the exoskeleton could provide protection from predators or serve as camouflage to deceive their prey. The encrusted soil particles are because this species has glandular pores in the cuticle and their secretion help to stick the soil particles. These spiders are very cryptic, which coupled with lack of movement when exposed makes them quite difficult to find and collect.

The specific name of the new species Paratropis tuxtlensis refers to the type locality: Estación de Biología Tropical "Los Tuxtlas", Veracruz, Mexico. The species is known only from the region around the type locality in the Volcán San Martin Biosphere Reserve.

These species typically don't make burrows but rely on their camouflage to hide under rocks and in the soil. "The specimens were collected in tropical rain-forest, under boulders on the ground. They remained motionless when they were exposed by removing the rock that provided shelter, possibly as a defense mechanism because the soil particles encrusted on the body cuticle serves as camouflage with the moist ground," explains the authors of the study, Dr. Alejandro Valdez-Mondragón, M. Sc. Jorge I. Mendoza and Dr. Oscar F. Francke from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City.

http://phys.org/news/2014-06-spider-species-mexico-soil-particles.html

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A new spider species with amazing camouflaging abilities has been discovered (Original Post) Judi Lynn Jun 2014 OP
Is that a lifesize photo? Egads. nt Mnemosyne Jun 2014 #1
That would depend on the device you're viewing it on muriel_volestrangler Jun 2014 #2
Missed the size somehow. Whew, thanks m_v! nt Mnemosyne Jun 2014 #3
I shot right past that, too. So glad to see your post! That size is far easier to live with! n/t Judi Lynn Jun 2014 #8
atta boy navarth Jun 2014 #4
nuke them from orbit d_b Jun 2014 #5
Sweet! Solly Mack Jun 2014 #6
Wow, cool! When are the Koch criminals planning to pave over its habitat? catbyte Jun 2014 #7
My first thoughts, always. NCarolinawoman Jun 2014 #9
Well, not so amazing that they weren't discovered. Orsino Jun 2014 #10
here's another pic - demonstrating the camouflaging abilities even further wyldwolf Jun 2014 #11
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