one in Oregon, and the other on Israel/Jordan border.
The huge arachnid has been named the Trogloraptor, or "cave robber", in reference to its chosen home and "extraordinary, raptorial" claws, which suggest that it is a fierce, specialised predator.

Measuring about four centimetres wide when its legs are extended, the spider is extremely important in evolutionarily terms because it represents not only a new genus and species, but also a new family, Trogloraptoridae.

The historic discovery revealed on yesterday/today (Friday August 17th) was made by a team of arachnologists from the California Academy of Sciences working with 'citizen' scientists from the Western Cave Conservancy who found the spiders living in caves in southwest Oregon.

Colleagues from San Diego State University found more of the arachnids in old-growth redwood forests.

The regions are part of a swathe of forest stretching from California to British Colombia which are known for rare species.

Deep forests there are also said to be the lair of the legendary Bigfoot - although the researchers believe that controversial creature is probably fictional.

Meanwhile the Trogloraptor is very real and hangs beneath rudimentary webs on cave ceilings.

Its unusual anatomy has forced arachnologists to revise their views of spider evolution.

Scientists said there is strong evidence suggesting that Trogloraptor is a close relative of goblin spiders, but they added that it possesses a "mosaic of ancient, widespread features and evolutionary novelties".

The true distribution of Trogloraptor also remains unknown at the moment. Scientists believe that while the relatively large, peculiar animal has eluded discovery until 2012, more may be lurking in the forests and caves of western North America.


Scientists have unearthed a completely new species of spider hiding in sand dunes on the Israel-Jordan border.

With a legspan that stretches 5.5 inches, the spider, called Cerbalus aravensis, is the biggest of its type in the Middle East. “It is rare to find a new species of spider — at least around this part of the world — which is so big,” said biologist Uri Shanas of the University of Haifa-Oranim in Israel, who discovered the arachnid.

Most of Cerbalus aravensis‘s habits remain a mystery, but the researchers say it is nocturnal and most active during the blazing summer heat. The spider lives in an underground den, hidden by a door that swings upwards to welcome unsuspecting prey like lizards and insects. To make the camouflage door, the spider patches together bits of sand.

The researchers believe the spider uses a “sit-and-wait” hunting strategy, biding its time till prey approach, Shanas said.

Unfortunately, the spider’s habitat is under immediate threat, he said. The Israeli government recently approved mining operations in the region, which could wipe out the creature.

At home i admit if i see a spider,i scream and
dance about and takes me like ten tryes to
even get close to it to kill it if its on the
wall or anywhere. If i had soemthing that
big in my house i think id seriously move
lol or use vacume sweeper

I thought it was interesting to read about
it though .i glanced at the pics quick
though shivers

But i like what you put is intersting things
you always come up with i like it when
i see you post something new.

thank you, i feel that any new species of animal/insect is worth mentioning, shows evolution at work. Spiders give a lot of people the shivers, probably worse than snakes. But fortunately, there are no spiders that will eat us, and only a few that can kill us. (being eaten by a spider has to be one of the worse type deaths imaginable)