New species of Albino trapdoor adds to biodiversity jigsaw
A new species of spider has been found near Northam -- just by chance.
The spider has been identified by the WA Museum as a new species of trap door spider from the Idiopidae family.
Nicknamed the albino trapdoor spider, it was spotted by Grass Valley resident John Cornish on his back veranda in July.
The white-headed, black and brown-legged spider about the size of a 50-cent piece was captured in a jar and handed to the Northam office of the Department of Environment and Conservation.
Wheatbelt National Resource Management spider expert Mick Davis realised it was potentially a new species.
Senior curator of arachnology Dr. Mark Harvey says subtle differences on the pedipalp and front leg of the male indicated it was a new type of spider.
鈥淭he pedipalp is used to transfer sperm to the female during mating and the front legs are used to lift her body up,鈥� Dr. Harvey says.
鈥淐omparing the sizes of the processes and the number of small spines on these structures with other species of white-headed trap-door spiders shows sufficient differences to conclude it is a new species.鈥�
Dr. Harvey says new spider species were often discovered in WA but many areas remain poorly surveyed in relation to invertebrates鈥攅specially highly seasonal and cryptic species such as trap-door spiders.
鈥淚t鈥檚 likely this species has a very small natural range that has been affected by land clearing,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t may simply be hanging on in small remnant vegetation patches.
鈥淭he spiders make burrows in the soil that have tight-fitting trap-door lids. These lids are often difficult to see and the spiders can remain undetected without careful observations.
鈥淥nce the males mature, they leave their burrows and wander in search of females.
While the new spider is yet to be officially named, Dr. Harvey says it adds a small piece to the overall giant biodiversity jigsaw puzzle.
鈥淲e know of hundreds of new species but have insufficient time to prepare scientific descriptions,鈥� he says.
鈥淔ull descriptions take a long time to prepare and publish and we have a very long back-log of new species waiting in the queue.鈥�
Dr. Harvey says the discovery does not change any scientific thinking on spiders, but adds, 鈥淚t is cool to see such a strangely colored spider.鈥�
Provided by ScienceNetwork Western Australia
