‘Large’ 8-eyed creature with ‘wiggly’ genitalia found on trees. It’s a new species

In a forest in Taiwan, a “large” creature sat perched on a tree and, with its eight eyes, scanned its surroundings. The animal — and its unusual perch — caught the attention of scientists. It turned out to be a new species.

Researchers ventured into forests of southern and eastern Taiwan on wildlife surveys between 2016 and 2021, according to a study published Oct. 6 in the journal Zootaxa.

During their surveys, researchers found five “large” spiders living in tree holes, the study said. Intrigued, they took a closer look at the spiders and discovered a new species: Hogna arborea, or the Taiwanese tree-dwelling wolf spider.

“Most Taiwanese wolf spiders are small to (medium) sized species and mainly wander through the ground in grasslands, farmlands, and pond sides,” researchers said. “A recent discovery of a tree-hole-living species in Taiwan was therefore surprising.”

The Taiwanese tree-dwelling wolf spider is considered “large,” reaching about 0.8 inches in size, the study said. It has eight eyes, strong legs and a hairy body with a “heart-like” shape. Females have “internal genitalia with a pair of massive, leaf-like and wiggly folds.”

Photos show the Taiwanese tree-dwelling wolf spider. Its legs are a mixture of brown, white and black blotches, getting darker toward the tips. Its hairy body has a similar color pattern with a “distinct brown central band,” researchers said.

Other photos show the new species perched in tree holes and tucked behind its web. Researchers reported seeing these spiders “weaving an irregular, flat web on the opening of the hole.”

Researchers also saw the Taiwanese tree-dwelling wolf spider carrying an egg sac and “wandering on the wall of a concrete water tank,” the study said.

The Taiwanese tree-dwelling wolf spider has been found in forests of four counties in southern and eastern Taiwan, the study said.

Researchers named the new species after its preferred habitat. The Taiwanese tree-dwelling wolf spider is one of only three wolf spider species that have been “definitively described as arboreal.”

The new species was identified by its size, habitat and genitalia, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had between about 6% and about 12% genetic divergence from other known wolf spiders.

The research team included Ying-Yuan Lo, Chi Wei and Ren-Chung Cheng.

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