‘Unique,’ hairy creature found hiding in rocks in India, study says. See the new species

While in southern India, scientists recently stumbled upon some unusual spiders.

The arachnids — which were brown, hairy and minuscule — were found “well camouflaged” among rocks and patches of vegetation on a mountain in Kerala.

Intrigued, scientists collected male and female specimens by hand and preserved them in ethanol for further analysis. Upon taking detailed photographs and measurements with a stereomicroscope, they determined that the spiders had never before been identified.

The new species of spider was named Wadicosa intermediata, according to a study published on Dec. 31 in the Journal of Grigore Antipa National Museum of Natural History.

The newfound creatures are wolf spiders, which are distinguished by their ability to quickly chase prey — given that they cannot spin webs, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation. Females are also known for carrying their offspring on their back.

The genus Wadicosa is currently known to include 17 species, four of which are found in India.

Males in this genus can be identified by their “cork-screw shaped embolus,” which is their sex organ.

The newly found spiders also possess several “subtle differences that can be used to classify them as a new species.”

For example, the males measure 5.51 millimeters in length, while the female was slightly larger, measuring 6.62 millimeters.

When examined closely, both sexes also display a variety of colors, including brown, black, white and yellow.

Additionally, females possess “finger-like projections” near their copulatory opening, which are “unique to this new species,” scientists said.

The study authors were Raveendran Sudha Abhijith and Ambalaparambil Vasu Sudhikumar.

This story was originally published January 3, 2025 at 6:50 AM with the headline "‘Unique,’ hairy creature found hiding in rocks in India, study says. See the new species."