‘Shy’ eight-eyed creature found hiding under cow poop. It’s a hairy new species
A hairy, eight-eyed creature mosied across a grassland in India. The “shy” animal took refuge underneath a pile of cow poop, but it was still spotted. Scientists captured the hidden animal — and discovered a new species.
Researchers ventured into the grasslands of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan to study wildlife, according to a study published Sept. 8 in the European Journal of Taxonomy. During surveys in 2018 and 2020, they found seven spiders hiding under rocks and cow poop.
Looking closer at the hairy spider, the researchers realized they’d discovered a new species: Palpimanus godawan, or the Godawan palp-footed spider.
The Godawan palp-footed spider is about 0.3 inches in length with males being slightly larger than females, the study said. The spider is “thickly” covered in white hairs. It has eight eyes, a wrinkly body and claws on the end of its legs.
A photo shows the Godawan palp-footed spider. It has a caramel coloring, a smaller head and a larger, elongated abdomen.
Researchers described the spider as slow-moving and “shy by nature.” When disturbed, it “always tries to hide under stones,” the study said. Co-author Rishikesh Tripathi told McClatchy News that the spider is also venomous but not harmful to humans.
The Godawan palp-footed spider has only been found in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, the study said. This desert is about 450 miles southwest of New Delhi and along the India-Pakistan border.
Researchers also searched for spiders in the grassland of Maharashtra, the study said. During surveys in 2020 and 2022, they found four hiding under rocks and discovered a second new species: Palpimanus maldhok, or the Maldhok palp-footed spider.
The Maldhok palp-footed spider is about 0.25 inches in length with females being slightly larger than males, the study said. It has eight eyes, a hairy body, claws on the end of its legs and a “balloon-like” female reproductive organ.
A photo shows the Maldhok palp-footed spider on a rock. It has a reddish-brown body with white-gray hairs that make it look shaggy.
Researchers described the Maldhok palp-footed spider as “shy by nature.” When disturbed, it also tries to hide under rocks but “moves slowly.” These spiders are also venomous but not harmful to humans, Tripathi said.
The Maldhok palp-footed spider has only been found around Boramani, Maharashtra, the study said. This village, also known as Boramni, is about 870 miles southwest of New Delhi.
Researchers named both new species after the great Indian bustard, a critically endangered bird species. In Rajasthan, the bustard is the state bird and commonly referred to as Godawan. In Maharashtra, the bird has the common name of Maldhok, the study said.
The new species were identified based on their body shapes and genitalia, the study said. Researchers did not provide a DNA analysis of the new species.
The research team included Rishikesh Tripathi, Pradeep Sankaran, Nikhil Kuni and Ambalaparambil Sudhikumar.
This story was originally published September 8, 2023 at 12:56 PM with the headline "‘Shy’ eight-eyed creature found hiding under cow poop. It’s a hairy new species."
