FIRST VIDEO OF NEW SPIDER SPECIES! - Smarter Every Day 78

TL;DR

A new species of spider with remarkable behaviors is potentially discovered in the Amazon rainforest.

Transcript

[music] Hey it's me Destin welcome back to Smarter Every Day. Today's observation that I'm gonna share with you is amazing. It's the discovery of a new species of spider potentially, in the Amazon rainforest. I'm talking about the exact moment that we walked up and recorded for science, video of a new species of spider that has amazing behaviours. ... Read More

Key Insights

• 👶 The discovery of a potentially new spider species with unique behaviors showcases the diversity of life in the Amazon rainforest.
• 🕷️ The spider's ability to create a fake spider out of debris and vibrate it to appear alive demonstrates its remarkable adaptation skills.
• 😫 The presence of eight legs and a combination of an abdomen and a cephalothorax sets this spider apart from other known species.
• 👶 Researchers are still analyzing the data to determine if this is truly a new species or a variation of an existing one.
• 🦻 The video highlights the importance of macro lenses in capturing detailed images of spiders and aiding in their classification.
• 🕷️ Naming suggestions for the new species include the effigy spider, debris spider, decoy spider, and mosaic spider.
• 🫵 The video creator encourages viewers to suggest names for the new species, which may be considered by researchers.

Questions & Answers

Q: How was the new spider species discovered?

The discovery was made by the video creator and his team while exploring the Amazon rainforest. They stumbled upon a spider that appeared to be creating a fake spider out of debris.

Q: What purpose does the fake spider serve?

The fake spider is a decoy created by the tiny spider to trick predators into believing it is a larger spider. It allows the spider to appear intimidating and potentially avoid being attacked.

Q: What makes the new spider species unique?

The new spider species has eight legs, which is unusual for spiders. Additionally, it has both an abdomen and a cephalothorax, a combination rarely seen in spiders.

Q: Has the new spider species been officially classified as a new species?

The classification of the spider as a new species is still being determined. Arachnologists from Harvard and Cornell are reviewing the data to confirm if it is indeed a new species.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The video captures the observation of a new species of spider in the Amazon rainforest, exhibiting unique behaviors.

• The spider is seen creating a fake spider out of debris to appear larger and uses vibrations to make it seem alive.

• The spider's ability to mimic a larger spider and its eight legs with a combination of an abdomen and a cephalothorax is mind-blowing.