A striking electric blue tarantula species, named Chilobrachys natanicharum, has been unearthed in the forests of southern Thailand’s Phang-Nga province. Thai researchers made this captivating discovery during an expedition aimed at studying the diversity and distribution of tarantulas in the region. YouTuber JoCho Sippawat also accompanied the team on this exploration.
The mesmerizing electric blue spider found its home in a mangrove forest. Details of this exciting find were published in the research journal ZooKeys on September 18.
Narin Chomphuphuang, a researcher at Khon Kaen University’s Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, described the spider, saying, “(We found) a new species of tarantula that exhibits a mesmerizing blue-violet hue, reminiscent of electric blue sparks.”
The electric blue tarantula was not entirely unknown to science; it had made appearances in the exotic spider trade, where it was dubbed the Electric Blue Tarantula. Some shops claimed to sell these spiders for prices reaching hundreds of dollars.
“Blue is one of the rarest colors to appear in nature, which makes blue coloration in animals particularly fascinating,” explained Chomphuphuang, adding, “To appear blue, an object needs to absorb very small amounts of energy while reflecting high-energy blue light,” a challenge in itself.
These electric-blue tarantulas typically inhabit hollow trees, and capturing them proves difficult due to the need to climb trees and coax them out of complex hollows in humid and slippery conditions. During their expedition, the researchers managed to collect only two of these striking spiders.
In the animal kingdom, blue hues are predominantly found in birds, fish, and insects like butterflies. However, in tarantulas, the blue coloration is not a result of pigments but rather structural coloring. Tiny nanoscopic structures reflect light in a way that creates shimmering blue and violet colors.
The study noted that blue color in tarantulas represents a unique example of structural colors evolving independently at least eight times. Tarantulas exhibit less iridescence and maintain highly conserved reflectance within a specific narrow range of wavelengths, setting them apart from birds and insects.
These electric blue tarantulas demonstrate impressive adaptability, thriving in both arboreal and terrestrial burrows in evergreen forests. However, in mangrove forests, their habitat is restricted to residing inside tree hollows due to the influence of tides.
Chomphuphuang emphasized the importance of taxonomy in research and conservation efforts, stating, “It’s essential for the general public to understand the significance of taxonomy as a fundamental aspect of research. Taxonomy serves a vital role, ranging from the basic, such as when people inquire on social media about the name of a spider, to conducting crucial research aimed at preserving these species from extinction.”
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