New Spider Species Discovered
January 16th, 2010 - 7:27 pm ICT by GDBy Ranjan Bhaduri
Jan 16, (THAINDIAN NEWS) A brand new species of spider in the Arava Region in Israel has been discovered by the University of Haifa-Oranim. This species was found in the sand dunes of the Samar. The spider named, Cerbalus aravensis, is being said to be the biggest spider that can be found in that particular region of Middle east, but unfortunately it is in the danger of becoming extinct.
The researchers said that the leg of this spider could be as long as 14 cms. The spiders have been detected to be nocturnal in nature, but apart from that not much information or study material is available at this point of time. Even the exact population is not known. The scientists however, know that this spider is the most active during the hottest months and that it constructs and lives in an underground den.
The head of the team (The Department of Biology) was Dr Shanas, who said that the discovery of the spider led to the preservation of the sand dune. Even these sand dunes are the only remaining ones in Israel given to the fact that the areas have been used up for agriculture. The 7 square KMs of the dunes that extended in the region once upon a time, has now been reduced to just 3 square Kms. The species’ existence is even more endangered given to the fact that soon mining projects could start in the area, in the coming times. There is also a possibility, that other undiscovered animals or species of creatures exist in the same region. Dr Shanas said that if the “few habitats are not preserved, the remaining species could become extinct before discovery”.
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Tags: arava, cms, department of biology, discovery, exact population, existence, habitats, haifa, samar, sand dune, sand dunes, scientists, species of spider, spider species, spiders, square kms, study material, underground den, undiscovered animals, university of haifa