The new species differs from its congeners by the bright blue-purple color of its leg hairs.
Scientists have discovered a new species of tarantula. The discovery was made by accident in southern Thailand, where scientists were studying spiders inhabiting the mangrove forests of Phangnga province, the Miami Herald reports.
Here, arachnologists noticed strange tarantulas, whose distinguishing feature was bright purple, resembling electric flashes, hairs on the legs.
The new species was named Chilobrachys natanicharum. Males of this species can reach five centimeters, while females grow to larger sizes - up to 6.5 centimeters.
In older individuals, blue hairs are found only on the legs, and the body is covered with brown hairs. In young spiders, blue hairs are also found on the body.
As the scientists noted, earlier tarantulas with this coloration were found in commercial trade under the name "electric blue tarantula". But they have not previously been found in the wild.
Earlier it was reported that in the sediment from the bottom of the Mariana Trench found previously unknown virus.