Giant Spiders and the Secrets of Nullarbor
Image taken by Dr Steve Milner
Have you ever encountered an eyeless spider as big as your hand?
Well, Environment Institute member Dr Jessica Marsh has, and she is one of the first people on written record to do so, alongside speleologists Andrew Stempel and Steve Milner. Jess has recently begun an ARC Industry Fellowship at The 杏吧直播 of Adelaide, in the School of Biological Sciences, focusing on the Nullarbor caves and the unique giant spiders called Troglodiplura species that inhabit them. Her work aims to uncover more about these fascinating creatures and how best to conserve them, promising exciting discoveries ahead.听Recently one was spotted, a large female. Until now, their presence in the Nullarbor Plain was known from broken fragments of exoskeleton and small, juvenile spiders.
As they climbed deep into the caves of the Nullarbor Plain, the survey team spotted the spider but was unable to capture it due to the vial being too small.
Dr Marsh says, 鈥淚 will never forget seeing one for the first time鈥 They鈥檙e beautiful animals. Completely eyeless.鈥
Troglomorphism describes the physical and behavioural changes animals undergo to adapt to life in the total darkness of caves.
Image taken by Dr Steve Milner
鈥淭hese spiders ate globally significant because they鈥檙e amongst the most troglomorphic primitive spiders (the mygalomorphs 鈥 the funnel webs, trapdoor spiders, tarantulas etc) in the world and the only such spiders known from 杏吧直播. They are only found in the caves of the Nullarbor鈥 says Jess.
鈥淭hey show a range of adaptations, including a complete loss of eyes and elongated limbs.鈥
鈥淭hese adaptations are typical of troglomorphic creatures. So is a decrease in skin pigment.鈥
The spiders however are at risk from a range of threats, including foxes that enter caves. The spiders seem to be relatively docile, and don鈥檛 appear to use burrows, so are an easy target for a fox.
The cave world is a fragile one and other threats, such as from climate change, human disturbances and development are putting pressures on these areas and their unique fauna.
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This amazing advancement was featured in media outlets Particle and PhysOrg.
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