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Related: About this forumA 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 doesnt burrow, it just hides under rocks and in the soil, waiting patiently for prey to come by.
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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
Mnemosyne
(21,363 posts)muriel_volestrangler
(101,154 posts)From the paper, its body is 8.2mm long.
Mnemosyne
(21,363 posts)Judi Lynn
(160,217 posts)navarth
(5,927 posts)...one talented spider. well done lad.
d_b
(7,451 posts)it's the only way to be sure
Solly Mack
(90,740 posts)catbyte
(34,170 posts)NCarolinawoman
(2,825 posts)If not there, somewhere else.
Orsino
(37,428 posts)(Seriously, thanks for posting.)
wyldwolf
(43,865 posts)Pretty cool, huh?