New Feather-Legged ‘Hairy Giant’ Tarantula Discovered

A new tarantula species, Trichopelma grande, has been discovered in western Cuba, captivating researchers with its impressive size and distinctive features.

The spider is the largest and hairiest member of its genus and was identified by David Ortiz of Masaryk University in Czechia and Elier Fonseca of the Cuban Zoological Society.

The findings, published in the Journal of Natural History, highlight the unique biodiversity of the Greater Antillean islands, including Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica and Puerto Rico.

These islands are abundant with unique species, having once been connected by land but since separated by water for millions of years.

Such conditions fostered the evolution of highly endemic species, particularly among spiders like tarantulas.

In the study, researchers extracted and sequenced DNA from the spider to confirm its place within the Trichopelma genus, revealing a close genetic relationship with Trichopelma laselva from Costa Rica, some 900 miles away.

However, Trichopelma grande distinguishes itself with several unique traits.
Adult males exhibit abundant long hair on their legs, resembling a “feather duster,” the authors wrote in the study.

This feature is typically associated with tree-dwelling tarantulas but is unusual for ground-dwelling species like Trichopelma grande.

Despite its arboreal-like appearance, the spider was found in trap-door burrows on the ground, adhering to the burrowing behaviors typical of its genus.

The spider’s abdomen features a striking pattern of spots and six transversal stripes, separated by a longitudinal light stripe. Its body is adorned with chestnut brown hairs, leaving the smooth, dark center of its back exposed. Its head is also much larger than other species in the genus.

Specimens of Trichopelma grande were discovered in Viñales National Park, a biodiversity hotspot in western Cuba. All four specimens were found within a 12.5-mile radius, suggesting the species has a highly restricted range.

The spider’s apparent scarcity and limited distribution raise potential conservation concerns, something the authors noted in the study.

“Given its limited distribution range, and its apparent absence in natural history collections despite its distinct appearance, this species might be scarce, positioning it as a potential conservation concern,” the researchers wrote.

With 11 Trichopelma species found on the island of Cuba, Trichopelma grande joins a large family on its home island.

Tarantulas are found throughout the Americas. They’re distinct from other spiders in several ways, including their fangs, which move forward and down rather than sideways and together, as with other spiders.

They also tend to be hairier and larger and have two lungs instead of the usual one in other spider types.

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Reference

Ortiz, D., & Fonseca, E. (2024). A hairy giant among dwarves: Trichopelma grande, a distinct new species of tarantula from Cuba (Araneae: Theraphosidae). Journal of Natural History, 58(45–48), 2189–2205. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2024.2401921