A New Tarantula Species Was Discovered In The Chiricahua Mountains, But Its Natural Habitat Is Threatened By Climate Change
A new species of tarantula, a red-reared arachnid, has been discovered in the Chiricahua Mountains in southeastern Arizona. It is the 30th species of tarantula to be recorded in the United States.
The fuzzy, eight-legged creature is black and gray with “fiery red” hairs on its abdomen. It was named Aphonopelma jacobii after Michael Jacobi, who helped find some of the first specimens.
“We often hear about new species being discovered from remote corners of Earth, but it is remarkable that these spiders are found in our own backyard, albeit in somewhat difficult-to-access areas of our backyard,” said Chris Hamilton, one of the lead authors of the study and an assistant professor from the University of Idaho.
“With Earth in the midst of a human-mediated extinction crisis, it is astonishing how little we know about our planet’s biodiversity, even for conspicuous and charismatic groups such as tarantulas.”
The tarantula was found in the forests of the Chiricahua Mountains, where the winters can get bitterly cold. The mountains are known for their diverse range of creatures. They are home to many species that are unique to the area.
They make up a part of the Madrean Archipelago, which is often referred to as the Madrean Sky Islands, a complex of forested mountain ranges separated by grasslands and deserts.
The “islands” span the Cordilleran gap from the Colorado Plateau to the Rocky Mountains in the southwestern United States and the Sierra Madre Occidental in northwestern Mexico.
The Chiricahua Mountains evolved in isolation, leading to the biodiversity hotspot it is today. Unfortunately, the tarantula’s natural habitat is being threatened by climate change, so it faces many dangers, including extinction.
Over the next few decades, the forests in the Sky Island region will start to disappear from the mountains as temperatures continue to rise and precipitation continues to decrease.
SE Viera Photo – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only
Sign up for Chip Chick’s newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.
Since the spiders are used to the cooler and more humid mountaintops, they, along with organisms that have adapted to a similar environment, will likely go extinct.
According to Brent Hendrixson, a co-lead study author and professor at Millsaps College, the spiders are also threatened by increased development, destructive recreational activities, and wildfires.
Additionally, the tarantulas’ rarity, docile nature, and bright coloring may make them vulnerable targets for the exotic pet trade.
“We must consider the impact that unethical collectors might have on these spiders when determining the threats to this species and the implications for its conservation.”
The Chiricahua Mountains are also home to another species of tarantula, Aphonopelma chiricahua, named after the region. Before the new discovery of A. jacobii, it was thought to be the only tarantula species living in the mountains.
The study was published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal ZooKeys.
Welcome to Billionaire Club Co LLC, your gateway to a brand-new social media experience! Sign up today and dive into over 10,000 fresh daily articles and videos curated just for your enjoyment. Enjoy the ad free experience, unlimited content interactions, and get that coveted blue check verification—all for just $1 a month!
Account Frozen
Your account is frozen. You can still view content but cannot interact with it.
Please go to your settings to update your account status.
Open Profile Settings