vayda on Nostr: 🚨 ARTHROPOD OF THE DAY 🚨 Scientists in Thailand have discovered a new (Sept. ...
🚨 ARTHROPOD OF THE DAY 🚨
Scientists in Thailand have discovered a new (Sept. 2023) species of tarantula with a very unique blue hue. The tarantula is named Chilobrachys natanicharum and is also called the electric blue tarantula.
The spider’s vivid blue coloration is created not by pigments but by nanostructures on the tarantula’s hairs that manipulate light. This produces an iridescent effect that shifts captivatingly with the viewing angle. Hues of violet are also present in areas like the chelicera (mouth), carapace (upper body) and leg segments.
Unlike related tarantulas that live exclusively in bamboo, researchers say this species shows “remarkable adaptability.” It thrives in arboreal and terrestrial burrows within mangrove and evergreen forests at elevations up to 57 meters (187 feet).
Scientists in Thailand have discovered a new (Sept. 2023) species of tarantula with a very unique blue hue. The tarantula is named Chilobrachys natanicharum and is also called the electric blue tarantula.
The spider’s vivid blue coloration is created not by pigments but by nanostructures on the tarantula’s hairs that manipulate light. This produces an iridescent effect that shifts captivatingly with the viewing angle. Hues of violet are also present in areas like the chelicera (mouth), carapace (upper body) and leg segments.
Unlike related tarantulas that live exclusively in bamboo, researchers say this species shows “remarkable adaptability.” It thrives in arboreal and terrestrial burrows within mangrove and evergreen forests at elevations up to 57 meters (187 feet).