Two marooned pirates have been discovered on a remote tropical island in the Atlantic Ocean. These pirate spiders, although lacking eyepatches and cutlasses, are a new species known for taking over the webs of other spiders and killing the occupants.
A recent study led by Danni Sherwood revealed that these spiders, previously believed to be a single, common species, are actually two distinct species unique to the cloud forest. This habitat, found on the isolated St Helena island, is crucial for conservation efforts.
The unique and threatened Saint Helenian cloud forest is home to these pirate spiders, making their discovery significant for biodiversity conservation. The findings were published in the European Journal of Taxonomy.
St Helena, located 2,000 kilometers off the coast of west Africa, boasts diverse environments, from tropical forests to desert-like coasts, fostering a biodiversity found nowhere else on Earth.
2024-02-17 02:00:05
Post from phys.org