A new tarantula species has been discovered by a group of researchers in Thailand recently, and it looks surreal. They found the rare spider during a journey to a province to research the diversity of the fascinating arachnids in the south part of the country. Thai researcher Narin Chomphuphuang told CNN, “We found a new species of tarantula that exhibits a mesmerizing blue-violet hue, reminiscent of electric blue sparks.” The researcher went on to express how blue is such a rare color to find in nature, “[making] blue coloration in animals particularly fascinating.”
The researchers continued to explain that the coloring originally comes from the arrangement of “biological photonic nanostructures, rather than pigments. The point of this is that the presence of the electric blue tarantula doesn’t come from blue pigmentation” but in the unique “structure of their hair, which incorporates nanostructures that manipulate light to create this striking blue appearance”, said Chomphuphuang. Narin stated, “To appear blue, an object needs to absorb very small amounts of energy while reflecting high-energy blue light.” This, he said, is very challenging.
The research paper (that detailed the discovery) stated how the tarantulas unique coloring comes from two types of hair, “metallic-blue and violet ones”. These exist on various parts of the arachnid’s body, “including the legs, the chellcera (mouthparts usually referred to as “jaws”), and the carapace (upper case, like turtles are to shells).” Its habitats are in tree hollows, which make it difficult to capture the creature, so the researchers actually had to climb trees to lure it out.
In conclusion, this is a very enchanting and interesting discovery, and this arachnid is visually magnificent. This is not only a once-in-a-lifetime unearthing but a treasure and a global phenomenon. Over time there will be more discoveries about the new species but until then, all that can be said is that the electric blue tarantula (cobalt blue tarantula) is one of the world’s rarest creatures.
