The largest and with the most hairy legs of its kind: a new species of tarantula found in Cuba. Photo

Researchers have discovered a new species of tarantula in Viñales National Park on the western side of the island of Cuba, which is a hot biological spot. The peculiarity of the newly discovered spiders is that they are the largest species in the genus Trichopelma and also have very hairy legs.

Until now, Tricopelma contained 22 species of spiders found in the Antilles, including five species from Cuba. The new species, which was named T richopelma grande, is a bit unusual because it shows morphological features usually found in those spiders that live in trees, IflScience writes.

"The spiders found are the largest of their kind. However, the largest species of tarantula in the world belongs to the genus Theraphosa and lives in northern South America. They can reach 25-35 mm in carapace length, which is the structure most commonly used to measure the size of spiders," explained lead author of the study and postdoctoral fellow David Ortiz.

In addition to their impressive size, another feature of the new species is that the males have prominent, stiff hairs on their legs known as bristles. Experts say they give "the legs a feather-like appearance."

Hairy legs are a common trait among tarantulas that live in trees, say nature researchers. However, the new species of spider lives in a burrow, like other Trichopelma species.

Given that the researchers have found only a few examples of the new spider species, all of which are male, there is not enough data to determine the conservation status of Trichopelma grande. However, the scientists emphasize the importance of protecting Viñales National Park and the living species that live there.

"I believe that such a unique species of tarantula deserves a deeper study. The Viñales National Park is threatened by human activities (e.g., tree cutting) and extreme weather events such as hurricanes. The Viñales Valley is deeply damaged, and only some areas of the forest remain intact," David Ortiz emphasized.

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