Electric Blue Tarantula:
The spider, which was named Chilobrachys Natanicharum, is the only tarantula ever discovered in a Thai mangrove forest. Their bite and venom are pretty powerful, and they are relatively quick to attack if they feel threatened. There is a very low percentage of tarantula species that have a blue coloration. The secret behind the vivid blue coloration of our tarantula lies not in the presence of blue pigments, but rather in the unique structure of their hair, which incorporates nanostructures that manipulate light. The color isn’t meant for anything although some scientists suspect that the color is meant to catch the eye of other spiders for their mating rituals. Unfortunately, the new tarantula species face the same threats as other local populations: the destruction of natural habitats and tarantula hunting.
Vampire Wasp:
A group of Finnish and American researchers set up insect traps in a nature reserve outside of the Peruvian city of Iquitos. The traps captured hundreds of insects, many of which were new species, referred to as vampire wasps. However, there was one insect that stood out from the rest. A large wasp that had a different face from the others. Scientists identified the insect as a new species of Darwin wasp, a diverse family spread around the world. They called the new species Capitojoppa Amazonica. There isn’t much known about the life cycle of the insect yet but the family of wasps that it belongs to has a habit of laying eggs in unsuspecting hosts like spiders and caterpillars.
Venomius Tomhardyi:
The spider was found in coastal forests in Tasmania, where it builds its web only at night and dismantles it during the day. The pattern of black spots on the spider’s abdomen reminded the researchers of the face of the Marvel Comics character Venom, played by the actor Tom Hardy. Hence, how it got its name. I don’t see it but what do I know? This distinctive orb-weaving spider is sufficiently different from other members of its family to be assigned a new genus of its own. Though closely related to the leaf-rolling spiders, which hide in a curled-up leaf built into the center of their web.
Bent-toed gecko (Cyrtodactylus Santana):
The gecko was first found during the day in the Lene Hara cave in Nino Konis Santana National Park. Scientists were unable to catch it during the day as the Gecko evaded capture. So they came back during the night and managed to catch 10 of them. The expedition that caught the geckos also found several plants and crabs that are being analyzed and may prove to be undescribed species. Limited biological surveying has taken place in Timor-Leste due to the violence and unrest before its independence, so scientists believe that there the country may have more undescribed species to be found.
Dorado Octopus:
This new deep-sea octopus was found about 100 miles off the coast of Puntarenas, Costa Rica. In the picture above it shows many brooding mother octopuses curled up. This is believed to be a defensive position to warn off predators. Now you may be wondering, what is brooding? Well, brooding is a period in which a mother octopus is protecting its eggs and cleaning them. During this time they don’t even eat and normally die around the time the eggs hatch. The place in which the Dorado Octopus was found appears to be a nursery for them and other octopuses but not much else has been found out about them.
Antarctic strawberry feather star:
This one by far has to be my favorite. This creature’s actual name is “Promachocrinus fragarius,” but I like the nickname better. This creature is said to have around 20 “arms”, each reaching about 8 inches long. The “arms’ have been described as some being bumpy and others feeling feathery. On the end of the arms, there are tiny claws that are used to hold onto the bottom of the seafloor. It was found somewhere between 215 feet to about 3,840 feet below the surface. Overall, I think this creature was a cool one to research about.
