The discovery of another species of tarantula is not very exciting to arachnophobes, but to the curious and ecologically conscientious folks, it is good news.
The Antillena miguelangeli is the second tree-dwelling tarantula to be discovered on La Hispaniola. It was found in the province of Valverde, in the northwestern part of the Dominican Republic, along the banks of the Gurabo river in the Wildlife Refuge located there.
The new species was found by Gabriel de los Santos, from the Museum of Natural History in Santo Domingo and the Brazilian expert, Rogerio Bertani from the Butantan Institute.
So far, this species is known to only inhabit areas in the Dominican Republic. Actually, the first species of this tree-dwelling spider was found over 10 years ago in Pedernales.
These large spiders (some two inches or five centimeters of body length) weave silken nests in trees perhaps covering the entrance a hole in the tree trunk, rather than dig holes in the ground.
In reality, it was wildlife photographer Miguel Angel Landestoy who first brought these new arachnids to the attention of De los Santos, and for this reason they have been designated Antillena miguelangeli.
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Listin Diario
23 September 2024