Most people have a fear of spiders but some people have a morbid fear which leads to arachnophobia. Those individuals would probably be better off avoiding Australia because giant spiders tend to make the news regularly.
More than likely, you’ve seen your share of articles about the Huntsman spider in the news. There are also many other articles that associate Australia with all types of creepy crawlies, from snakes to various other animals.
The amount of fear the people have of spiders was punctuated by a study led by the City University London. The lead of the study, Graham Davey, found that 75% of the 118 people surveyed had a fear of spiders.
That fear may have taken on a new height now that scientists have found a new spider in Australia. Not only is it a large spider, but it is also being described as a giant spider found in Queensland.
The official name of the spider is Euoplos Dignitas, and the pictures are enough to send you running to high ground. Fortunately, it is found in a limited area of the Brigalow Belt in Central Queensland.
Scientists from the Queensland Museum conducted the investigation that located the spider. They said that it is a large trapdoor spider found in open woodlands. It builds its nest in the black soils of Queensland.
Even the name they gave the spider reflects how large of a creature it is. The Latin name comes from a word meaning greatness or dignity.
You might also be interested in knowing that the spider is part of an endangered species. Much of the habitat where it lives has been lost to land clearing.
According to a research assistant from the Queensland Museum, it’s not unusual for scientists to get to know the specimens found from across Australia because you never know what you are going to find.
She said: “When you then get to see that through to the end, which is giving a name to that species and knowing that that species is now known to everyone and can be protected.”
The primary arachnologist from the Museum, Dr. Michael Rix, said that the female trapdoor spiders are larger than the males. They are about 5 cm in body length.
He also said they live under the trapdoors in woodland habitats, and most people wouldn’t even realize they exist.
