Just when we thought that the world of spiders had no more surprises waiting for us, a new batch of creepy-crawlies proves us wrong. Whether they inspire wonder or just a plain ol’ case of the heebie-jeebies, spiders continue to shed new light on the natural world.
10 Skeletorus
How many spiders have names that sound like they were inspired by ’80s cartoon villains? Skeletorus (Maratus sceletus), discovered in early 2015, is a species of peacock spider hailing from the southeast region of Queensland, Australia. What makes it unique from other peacock spiders are the stripes of white and light blue pigment decorating its mostly black body. This pattern led to this spider’s equally colorful name because the stripes resemble a skeleton across its entire body.
Yet what truly sets the skeletorus and others in the peacock spider family apart from other arachnids is the elaborate mating dance performed by the males. Displays of waving frontal arms coupled with the lifting and vibrating of the abdominal flap is used to attract the attention of females, who are the nondescript brownish color of dirt or tree bark.
Even aided by instinct, it is common to see males making displays for the wrong species of female. This can prove to be a fatal mistake for the male since the female usually dwarfs him. To add to the complexity of this ritual, the skeletorus, along with all other peacock spiders, has dance moves that are exclusive to each individual species.
The skeletorus wasn’t alone. Madeline Girard, who discovered the spider, also found a related spider species and nicknamed it “Sparklemuffin” (Maratus jactatus).
9 Mysmena Wawuensis
At 0.75 millimeters long, Mysmena wawuensis, an incredibly tiny orb-weaving spider, stands close to the Patu digua—0.37 millimeters—as one of the smallest spiders in the world. Being roughly three times smaller than a standard grain of white rice makes this spider and others of the Mysmenidae family of arachnids difficult to locate and study. The dense jungle floor of China where this spider resides also presents barriers to further research. This explains why it took until 2013 for this nearly microscopic spider to be discovered.
The only area Mysmena wawuensis is known to inhabit is the Wawu Mountain National Park in the Sichuan Province of China. This area is also known for its panda sanctuary where nearly a dozen of the endangered animals reside. If this small spider could remain overlooked, then we should wonder what other forms of life could await hidden among the foliage.
8 Indian Tiger Spider
When it comes to large spiders, the Indian tiger spider (Poecilotheria rajaei) surely takes the cake as a new and noteworthy figure in the world of arachnids. Discovered in Sri Lanka in 2009, this beastly fellow can grow up to 20 centimeters (8 in) in length. Luckily, this slightly smaller, arboreal relative of the South American goliath birdeater only carries enough venom to be lethal to small rodents, lizards, and the occasional small bird.
Due to rampant deforestation, this particular spider—along with as many as 15 other species of Poecilotheria—is in danger. Unfortunately, some species become endangered before scientists have sufficient time to study and classify them. And at the end of the day, it is nearly impossible to guess how many could have already gone extinct without humanity being any the wiser. It just goes to show that even spiders of an impressive size can sneak by, unnoticed by researchers.
