A mystery variant of a “gem”-like spider has been found in Perth, where no member of the species has been seen for 30 years.
Researchers from Edith Cowan University and the University of Western Australia discovered the teyl trapdoor spider at UWA’s field station in Shenton Park.
“This species was first identified by the late Professor Barbara York Main. The genus name, Teyl, comes from Noongar languages as a gesture of respect and translates to mean ‘shiny stone,'” explained Dr. Leanda Mason, a research fellow at ECU.
Mason said the species in the genus were known for its small size, glossy sheen, and bright colouring – often orange or yellow.
Teyl spiders construct open-holed burrows, with very little silk lining rather than having a lid like many other trapdoor spiders.
Mason said this makes the burrows very difficult to distinguish, even by an expert.
“What makes this discovery even more extraordinary is that it appears to be an undescribed species, not yet formally named or studied,” Mason said.
“This little arachnid is more than a scientific curiosity – it is a jewel of biodiversity.
“These spiders, which have ancient Gondwanan roots, continue to survive in the scarce patches of native habitat that have been heavily impacted by land clearing and rapid changes in land use.”
For research purposes, the team collected a single pregnant female spider. Both the mother and her spiderlings are planned to be released back into their original habitat in the near future.
