2012’s New Species: Clawed Cave Spiders, Glowing Roaches, Tiny Tarantulas & More

[bronxzoofrank]

Hi All,
Invertebrate enthusiasts have learned to expect the discovery of fantastic new species on a regular basis. But even old timers such as I were shocked by some that came to light this past year. Large, claw-bearing Cave Robber Spiders, giant bio-luminescent roaches, brilliant arboreal tarantulas, neon-colored freshwater crabs, dive-bombing wasps…the list boggles the mind. Today I’ll highlight a few that have entranced me; please post your own favorites (whether covered here or not) below.
Cave Robber Spider, Trogloraptor marchingtoni
The Cave Robber Spider, arguably 2012’s most “otherworldly” discovery, turned up in a place not known for hiding unseen species – southwestern Oregon. In fact, not a single new spider has been described in the USA in the past 130 years.
Read article here 2012?s New Species include Spiders, Roaches, Millipedes, Wasps That Reptile Blog
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Thanks, Frank
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[Embrace Calamity]

That's so cool! That stuff is fascinating to me. When I heard about all the new animals they found in that dormant volcano in Papua New Guinea a few years ago, I was ecstatic and have wanted to go there since. I absolutely love that spider. Sounds like quite an impressive specimen.

~Maggot

 

[bronxzoofrank]

That's so cool! That stuff is fascinating to me. When I heard about all the new animals they found in that dormant volcano in Papua New Guinea a few years ago, I was ecstatic and have wanted to go there since. I absolutely love that spider. Sounds like quite an impressive specimen.

~Maggot

Thanks...yes, there's literally no end to what we might expect from spiders and other inverts; a close friend is an arachnologist - new species described very quickly theses days, and not "merely" on genetics...unexpected lifestyles, etc....Best, Frank