A brand-new species of tarantula was recently discovered in Thailand, according to a study published this month in the Zoo Keys journal. With their electric-blue coloring, these spiders would almost look at home in a Pixar movie.
As it turns out, this new species of Chilobrachys isn’t the only blue tarantula skittering around the globe. There’s the Antilles Pintoe Tarantula, the Cobalt Blue Tarantula, the Grooty Sapphire Ornamental Tarantula and more.
“The enchanting phenomenon of blue coloration in animals arises from the fact that blue is one of the rarest colors found in nature, and it is a structural color that is produced by the arrangement of biological photonic nanostructures, rather than pigments,” said the recent study. “This unique coloration has evolved independently in many different species, adding to the fascination and diversity of coloration patterns in the animal kingdom.”
Narin Chomphuphuang, a researcher at Khon Kaen University’s Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology further explained that the coloring comes from the tarantula’s unique hair structure. He said it “incorporates nanostructures that manipulate light to create this striking blue appearance,” according to CNN.
In 2020, CNET reported that “researchers from Yale-NUS College and Carnegie Mellon University have hypothesized that blue colors may be used to attract and communicate to potential mates,” as tarantulas can only observe certain colors.
While it isn’t the first blue tarantula to be discovered, the new species is the first with electric-blue coloring, as described by the scientists who identified it. They found the “blue-violet” hued spider in the Phang-Nga province of southern Thailand and said its coloring looked like “electrical sparks.”
Females and younger male tarantulas from the species tended to have more vibrant color. Chomphuphuang said it was difficult to document the spiders, as they live in tree hollows. Researchers even had to climb trees to lure them out, CNN reported.
“During our expedition, we walked in the evening and at night during low tide, managing to collect only two of them,” Chomphuphuang said, according to the outlet.
Since the mangrove forests where the electric-blue tarantula’s live are declining due to deforestation, they are becoming one of the world’s rarest tarantulas.
“Systematic monitoring is necessary to gather information about their population, and legal breeders should participate in Thai tarantula conservation projects,” said the study authors. “It is essential to take these steps to prevent further declines in tarantula populations and protect them for future generations.”