And along came another spider

Chee Chee Leung
March 19, 2007

The tiger huntsman is believed to be a new species.
Photo: Alan Henderson

AS IF huntsman spiders were not creepy enough, there may be more of the hairy kind around. Melbourne Museum has discovered what is believed to be a new huntsman species.

The distinctive spider, dubbed the tiger huntsman for its orange and black markings, was found by museum staff on a collecting trip to north Queensland.

Live exhibits co-ordinator and self-confessed spider nut Alan Henderson said he knew he was on to something special when he spotted the spider in a rainforest outside Cairns.

"I've always been excited about spiders, but to see something that I've never ever seen before and never even seen a photograph of is pretty exciting," Mr Henderson said. "Up until that moment I didn't think anything that colourful existed in Australia."

After the team returned to Melbourne, photographs of the female huntsman — which has a 35-millimetre body and a legspan of about 90 millimetres — were sent to spider experts around the country, but none recognised it.

But confirmation it is a new species of huntsman will not be possible until it dies and scientists can examine it under a microscope.

The huntsman lives for about two years, and this one is believed to be about a year old. It feasts on live crickets and cockroaches.

It was added this month to the museum's Bugs Alive! exhibit, where it can show off what Mr Henderson describes as excellent climbing and jumping skills.

"Once she jumped and then in mid-air turned and landed on the opposing surface," he said. "I held up the 10-card for that."

Source:
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/and-along-came-another-spider/2007/03/18/1174152881573.html