What is the newly discovered spider species in the Ecuadorean Amazon?

The newly discovered spider species in the Ecuadorean Amazon is named Taczanowskia waska.

How does the Taczanowskia waska spider protect itself?

The Taczanowskia waska spider protects itself by mimicking a parasitic 'zombie fungus' called gibellula.

Where was the Taczanowskia waska spider discovered?

The Taczanowskia waska spider was discovered in the Ecuadorean Amazon rainforest.

Home / Science / Spider Mimics Zombie Fungus to Survive Amazon

Spider Mimics Zombie Fungus to Survive Amazon

20 Mar

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Summary

A new spider species was found in the Ecuadorean Amazon.
The spider mimics a zombie fungus for protection.
It belongs to the rarely seen Taczanowskia genus.

Spider Mimics Zombie Fungus to Survive Amazon

A newly identified spider species in the Ecuadorean Amazon has astonished scientists with its unique defense mechanism. This spider mimics a parasitic 'zombie fungus,' known as gibellula, to protect itself from predators. The discovery was made by Alexander Bentley, a founder of the conservation foundation Waska Amazonía, during a tour in the Amazon rainforest.

Bentley initially observed what he believed to be a cordyceps fungus, famously known for infecting insects and controlling their behavior. However, upon closer inspection, the fungal mass moved, revealing it to be a spider. Subsequent identification on the citizen-science platform iNaturalist and further study by arachnid curator David Ricardo Díaz-Guevara confirmed it as a new species, Taczanowskia waska. Their findings were published last month in the journal Zootaxa.

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