Giant Spider Species Discovered in Middle Eastern Sand Dunes
Scientists have unearthed a completely new species of spider hiding in sand dunes on the Israel-Jordan border. With a legspan that stretches 5.5 inches, the spider, called Cerbalus aravensis, is the biggest of its type in the Middle East. “It is rare to find a new species of spider — at least around this part of the world — which is so big,” said biologist Uri Shanas of the University of Haifa-Oranim in Israel, who discovered the arachnid.
Most of Cerbalus aravensis’s habits remain a mystery, but the researchers say it is nocturnal and most active during the blazing summer heat. The spider lives in an underground den, hidden by a door that swings upwards to welcome unsuspecting prey like lizards and insects. To make the camouflage door, the spider patches together bits of sand.
The researchers believe the spider uses a “sit-and-wait” hunting strategy, biding its time till prey approach, Shanas said.
Unfortunately, the spider’s habitat is under immediate threat, he said. The Israeli government recently approved mining operations in the region, which could wipe out the creature.
Popularity: 84% [?]
Related posts:
- New Giant Prehistoric Fish Species Found Gathering Dust in Museums A fresh look at forgotten fossils has revealed two...
- Stunningly Preserved 165-Million-Year-Old Spider Fossil Found Scientists have unearthed an almost perfectly preserved spider fossil...
- Life-Size Sand Scorcher Is a Toy for Big Kids Call it a 10:1 scale model. After a childhood...
- Once Martian sand grains hop, they don’t stop Once Martian sand grains hop, they don’t stop. That’s...
- Government May Ban Giant Snake Imports Nine species of giant, exotic snakes will face new...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Great!
Awesome but… does it bite?
“The Israeli government recently approved mining operations in the region, which could wipe out the creature.”
Good luck to that mining operation!
Arggggghhhhh! Nuke it from orbit!! ITS THE ONLY WAY!
“researchers say it is nocturnal and most active during the blazing summer heat” - logic fail?
Unfortunately, the palastinians’s habitat is under immediate threat, he said. The Israeli government recently approved mining operations in the region, which could wipe out the people.
I HATE SPIDERS!!! if i were on that team you would hear me shouting swearing and screaming all around the world!
Amazing!
Spiders are pretty amazing! in my my opinion like the rain forest to wipe out a species not a good idea. nocturnal at night strives in the summer heat like tim said definitely a logic fail.
im writting a comment so it wont be sad
I hope they wipe out every one of the little buggers!!! Spiders are creepy (I don’t care if they eat grass!!). KILL THEM ALL!!
why logic fail? - it’s most active on summer nights …
I repect the spiders. It is Awesome to see spiders and other interesting spiders and bugs. Spiders will probably find a NUKE Hideout in Israel and payback will be a bite .
they should save the spider. i mean like if there are no spiders whos gonna eat the bugs? everyone that wants the spider to be gone should consider the following:
-spiders eat bugs with potental desieses
-spiders can be very useful and this one may lead to a medical science cure
-if this spider goes extinct then lizards probibilly will foxes cyotes and such might get desies. it coul make our lives suck. and not to mention an increse in the misqito population.
so i say stop the mining thing and save the spiders to save the deserts to save us!
My first thought was that the world could use fewer spiders. Then after thinking…YES definatly fewer spiders would be a good thing, especialy this giant creepy mother that just hides and attacks unsuspecting creatures out of a creepy freakin spider hole in the sand. Freakin ooogies me out man.
if that thing came near me i would freak!!!
Is it edible?
Yes, please kill them all, YUCKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WOW a nocturnal and diurnal new species I LOVE SPIDERS
holy crap!
If I came face to face with that thing, I’d happily give it my wallet.
the pink piggy made me comment aawwww
From it’s living habits it sounds just like a giant trapdoor spider.
I have no major issues with Spiders they do have their uses in our world like getting rid of flies and other bugs like bees help our environment with what they do but if that blighter appeared out of nowhere in front of me my instinct would be to either jump on it or run and then wonder what I was doing in the desert to begin with ;0)
I add comment only for the the sad pink creature
DON’T BE SAD PLZ
aaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!
BURN IT! RIGHT NOW!
what the hell is wrong with you people!
nobody ever has the right to take the life of any living being out of greed but only to get food…
dont kill the spiders as they are a part of this planet just as we are all… we are all animals and should love and respect all living things
i do like some creepy crawlers like that..i want to see it myself first before they nuke it out…!!
What a beautiful creature! Look at the coloration and the fragile, but strong appearance. We are blessed to have such wonders.
Kate, you are right - that is a type of trapdoor spider. I am used to seeing them with more substantial back legs (the better to launch itself at prey) but it seems to adapted well to its environment.
Let us hope it survives the mining activity or can find a new range to exist in.
Sooooo, let me get this straight. The “scientists” just barely discovered this thing but somehow magically know that precicely where the Israelis want to mine is the only place on Earth where it lives or can live?
One of those scientists wouldn’t happen to be named Al Gore, would he?
and nuke it to the other side of the moon
wonder what my cat would do with it, emmm, go kitteh fetch the spider.
Leave your response!
Most Viewed
Recent Posts
Archives
Categories
Tags
2010 Amazing Animals Atmosphere Bats boat Car crash dangerous Dinosaurs Earth Fish Fossil Fossils Found Gas Giant History Hubble Human Humans iPhone killer largest lightning Mars Music Mystery Nasa Nebula Oil people Scientists Sinkhole Snake Solar Space species Sun Volcanic volcano water Wii World WorldsMost Commented
Most Popular