The giant spider of the Sierra Cacachilas, a new discovery that surprises experts
A team of researchers from the San Diego Museum of Natural History, along with other experts, have discovered a new, disproportionately large species of spider in Mexico.
Deborah Sullivan Brennan of the Los Angeles Times reports that Califorctenus cacachilensis, also known as the Sierra Cacachilas wandering spider, is about the size of a softball and is a new genus of arachnid.
The spider was discovered in 2013 by field entomologist Jim Berrian and his team while exploring the Sierra Cacachilas, a small mountain range in Baja California Sur, Mexico.
While examining a cave in the area, researchers noticed a giant exoskeleton hanging from the ceiling.
Determined to find out more, they returned that same night and had their first encounter with the giant spider in the dark cave.
After catching about two dozen specimens in the area, the experts collected eight specimens for further study.
The spider’s head and legs are coffee-brown, while the abdomen is yellow.
Despite her rather ordinary appearance, Berrian describes her as an impressive-looking spider.
The body is about an inch long while the legs are about ten inches wide.
Although Califorctenus cacachilensis belongs to the same family as the Brazilian wandering spider, which is known for its dangerousness, it is so different from its relatives that experts place it in a different arachnid genus.
According to Maria Luisa Jimenez, a Baja spider expert, the spider is the largest species ever seen on the peninsula.
Although the spider looks intimidating, a bite is not fatal.
While many new species are discovered each year, expedition member Michael Wall believes this species is special because of its size.
“The probability of discovering a new species is quite high. But in general, most newly discovered species are tiny things that people don’t pay attention to. Given the size of this spider, that was a surprise.
Despite its size, Califorctenus cacachilensis is far from the world’s largest spider in terms of leg span, a title held by the Laos-dwelling giant hunting spider Heteropoda maxima, whose legs can grow to 30 cm (12 in) long.
Source: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/huge-new-spider-species-discovered-mexican-cave-180962848
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