New spider species discovered
January 12th, 2010 - 2:38 pm ICT by ANIWashington, Jan 12 (ANI): A previously unknown species of spider has been discovered in the dune of the Sands of Samar in the southern Arava region by scientists from the Department of Biology in the University of Haifa-Oranim.
However, the habitat of this new species is unfortunately endangered.
“The discovery of this new spider illustrates our obligation to preserve the dune,” said Dr. Shanas, who headed the team of scientists.
The Sands of Samar are the last remaining sand dune in Israeli territory in the southern Arava region.
Earlier, the sands stretched across some 7 square kilometres, but due to the rezoning of areas for agriculture and sand quarries, the sands have been reduced to fewer than 3 square kilometres.After conducting a series of studies, Shanas’ research team discovered this new spider, a member of the Cerbalus genus.
And ever since it has been found in the Arava, it has been given the name Cerbalus aravensis.
The researchers have said that this spider’s leg-span can reach up to 14 cm., which makes it the largest spider of its type in the Middle East.
While scientists do not have enough details to enable a full analysis of its biology and of its population in the sands, they know that it is a nocturnal spider, mostly active in the hottest months of the year.
The researchers also know that it constructs an underground den, which is closed with a “lifting door” made of sand particles that are glued together to camouflage the den.
Shanas wants to renew mining projects in the Sands of Samar in the near future, which will endanger the existence of the newly discovered spider.
He added that it is possible that there are additional unknown animal species living in the sands, and therefore efforts should be made to preserve this unique region in the Arava.
“The new discovery shows how much we still have to investigate, and that there are likely to be many more species that are unknown to us. If we do not preserve the few habitats that remain for these species, they will become extinct before we can even discover them,” concluded Shanas. (ANI)
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Tags: animal species, arava, department of biology, haifa, israeli territory, largest spider, leg span, months of the year, new discovery, nocturnal spider, oranim, rezoning, samar, sand dune, sand particles, species of spider, spider species, square kilometres, underground den, unknown species
