Psychedelic-Colored Tarantulas Discovered
By Michael Frank on November 7th, 2012
We’re pretty sure this isn’t a faked photo, because it’s in National Geographic, but if it showed up on Instagram we’d have our doubts. But this is no hoax. It’s a newly discovered arachnid, Typhochlaena costae, one of nine colorful — and rare — tree-dwelling tarantula species recently discovered in Brazil, a new study says. Tree-dwelling tarantulas typically have a lithe build, with thinner bodies and longer legs than other tarantulas. This makes them more agile and thus better suited for stalking prey in trees. Like the other new vibrant species, T. costa loses its bright coloration as it grows. No word from the Instituto Butantan in São Paulo, Brazil, which discovered the spiders, on the advantages of being colorful — but scientists are worried that pet collectors will be attracted to the rare species. Via National Geographic.
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