Fanged creature — with 6 eyes — found hiding in garage in Ecuador. It’s a new species
In a garage in central Ecuador, a six-eyed creature went about its day — or tried to. Something about the fanged animal caught the attention of visiting scientists. It turned out to be a new species.
Researchers encountered the spider and dozens more like it during wildlife surveys in Pichincha province in 2019 and 2022, according to a study published Jan. 10 in the journal Evolutionary Systematics. Taking a closer look at the animals, researchers realized they’d discovered a new species: Loxosceles guayllabamba, or the Guayllabamba recluse spider.
Loxosceles spiders, commonly known as recluse spiders, “have gained notoriety due to their bites,” researchers said. The group includes the infamous brown recluse spider, whose bites sometimes need medical attention. Most spiders, including recluse spiders, are venomous but do not pose a risk to humans.
Researchers did not respond to McClatchy News’ Jan. 10 questions about whether Guayllabamba recluse spiders were venomous and if they posed a risk to humans.
Guayllabamba recluse spiders are considered “medium-sized,” reaching about 0.3 inches in length, researchers said. They have six eyes, eight legs and fangs. Female Guayllabamba recluse spiders have oven mitt-shaped spermathecae, an internal reproductive organ used to store sperm, the study said.
Photos show the Guayllabamba recluse spiders. Males have a lighter yellowish brown coloring while females have a darker reddish brown coloring.
Guayllabamba recluse spiders were mostly found “under rocks, debris, in between leaves of dead Agave plants,” but a few were found in a house and “adjacent garage,” the study said.
Researchers said they named the new species after the Guayllabamba area where it was found. Guayllabamba is a small town on the outskirts of the “highly populated and ever extending” capital city of Quito in Pichincha province.
So far, Guayllabamba recluse spiders have been found in two neighboring provinces, Imbabura and Pichincha, the study said.
The new species was identified by its eyes, genitalia and body shape, the study said. Researchers did not provide a DNA analysis of the new species.
The research team included Nadine Dupérré, Danilo Harms, Verónica Crespo-Pérez and Elicio Tapia. The team also discovered a second new species of recluse spider.
This story was originally published January 12, 2024 at 12:35 PM with the headline "Fanged creature — with 6 eyes — found hiding in garage in Ecuador. It’s a new species."
