QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA — Researchers in Australia found a new rare spider species, the dolomedes briangreenei, nicknamed Brian, is an octopod with abilities such as swimming, catching fish and surfing.
The newly found spider was announced at the World Science Festival in Brisbane Australia on Wednesday. Brian was introduced to the world sitting in the center of the stage while researchers made the opening. This octopod is able to push itself from a rock wall to surf across a river surface before submerging in the water. It is also able to seize fishes and swim quickly to consume it.
Brian was named after professor Brian Greene, who specializes in physics and mathematics at Columbia University. It is the common grounds with waves, that connect both the spider and the string theory researcher.
“It’s wonderful that this beautiful native spider, which relies on waves for its very survival, has found a namesake in a man who is one of the world’s leading experts in exploring and explaining the effects of waves in our universe,” stated Queensland Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, during the World Science Festival.
Dolomedes briangreenei is a large, dark type of spider that fits into a hand. It is known for hunting in water edges while reposing in the water the spider detects movement or waves underneath and can proceed to catch it. Brian can also swim underwater to catch a prey and evade possible predators while scuttling along the water’s surface in its two middle pairs of legs.
The spider’s diet consist primarily of fish, frogs, and tadpoles. Especially invasive toad Rhinella Marinus, a type of toad that has increased in Australia and has been linked to the decline of native species that die after eating these poisonous tadpoles. It has been said that the appearance of Brian will contribute to the pest in Queensland
Researchers have said that Brian is able to sit underwater for up to an hour, and it is not dangerous to humans.
Source: Mashable