05 Apr 2013
8 CommentsA new species of tarantula roughly the size of a dinner plate has been discovered in a Sri Lankan village.
The arachnid, which can grow up to eight inches in diameter, has caused a panic among villagers, many of whom believe that its bite can be deadly.
Experts said a bite from the new find, named Poecilotheria rajaei, is not fatal, but residents in the Mankulam region still kill them on sight, lowering the species numbers even further.
The new spider, which like other tarantulas has eight legs, eight eyes and two fangs, was first revealed by residents of the region in 2009. Due to the 25-year-long Sri Lankan civil war scientists have only now been able to identify the class.
Ranil Nanayakkara, co-founder of Sir Lanka's Biodiversity Education and Research, helped lead an expedition to the area and found the spider living in trees and old doctor's quarters.
Working with Peter Kirk, Chairman of the British Tarantula Society, the group published a journal documenting the ground-breaking discovery but admitted education is needed to preserve the species.
Mr Kirk said: "It's always exciting when you find a new species, and it's quite common to uncover new tarantulas in areas that have previously been torn apart by war.
"But Sri Lankans are absolutely horrified by them and think believe they are extremely deadly - they will even kill them on sight."
The new find has been named Poecilotheria rajaei after a local police inspector who helped the research group with their navigation.
It has been measured at an ample eight inches and has various different markings and patterns.
"Some of the spiders are stunning, and they're a very attractive species," Mr Kirk said.
"They can leave people quite startled on first glance, but they are not fatal to humans. They can bite you and it will be very painful, there may be some swelling or some other reactions, but as far as I know a human has never died from a tarantula bite."
The rare spiders have been found in old trees, however due to deforestation the numbers are thought to be dwindling.
A new species is generally declared if there are enough differences noticed. The BTS are confident that the find may be added to another 15 recent discoveries.
The largest species of tarantula is the South American Theraphosa blondi, more commonly known as the Goliath Birdeater. It can reach a disturbing 12 inches in diameter.
Edited at telegraph.co.uk by Sarah Titterton