In the depths of Ecuador’s ‍wilderness, two new tarantula species have been discovered by scientists⁣ on the slopes of the ⁤Andes in the western part of the country. These findings were ‌made by researchers from Universidad San Francisco de Quito, ⁣who found the tarantulas on trees in ⁣the foothill evergreen forest of the Cordillera ‍Occidental.

One of the species, named Psalmopoeus chronoarachne, was found‌ in late February ⁣2023, 1.5 ‍meters above the⁢ forest floor. This species is already facing⁢ significant threats as⁤ its habitat is being destroyed for mining and agriculture. Its scientific name reflects this vulnerability, with “chrono” ⁢meaning time‌ and “arachne” meaning spider in Greek.

The other newly discovered tarantula, Psalmopoeus satanas, has a more curious name. It was ⁣appropriately named as the first individual⁣ that was collected had a bad attitude and ⁢exhibited defensive behavior. This species can be found in the north of the Cordillera Occidental at ‍about 900 meters above sea level ⁤and⁣ is also facing threats​ from habitat ‍degradation‌ and ⁣fragmentation.

The Mygalomorphae ⁢Research Group at Universidad San Francisco de Quito ⁤has⁤ grown fond of this​ individual despite​ its bad temperament.⁣ However, the species⁣ is still facing threats from‍ mining and urbanization in its ⁢habitat.

It is important to note that the areas where these tarantulas ⁤live are not under⁣ legal ⁣protection. This makes them⁢ vulnerable⁢ to ‌both ⁤legal and illegal mining operations, which introduce pollution ‍to their ecosystems. Stricter regulations and penalties⁢ for ⁤illegal activities could help​ these⁢ species survive. Educating local communities about the importance ​of‌ biodiversity conservation is also crucial ⁣in preventing further extinction.

Based on ⁢preliminary assessments,⁤ both tarantula⁣ species meet the⁢ criteria for being considered Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It is essential​ to consider the