"Secret Squirrel" tarantula
I suggested the name "sp. secret squirrel" as a joke to the arachnologist who found this brand new species, after hearing the naming was "secret squirrel business". I never expected for them to actually like it lol. Henceforth, we now have Selenotholus sp. secret squirrel
I love the story that your name you jokingly suggested is what they decided to go with, that is pretty funny!!

Where was this new species located, approximate location is all i need to know? lol
 
I love the story that your name you jokingly suggested is what they decided to go with, that is pretty funny!!

Where was this new species located, approximate location is all i need to know? lol
The locality is allegedly around Broken Hill, Aus. The community reception to the name has been 50:50 and half want it changed to sp. Broken Hill, but alot of people love the name for it's hilarity
 
The locality is allegedly around Broken Hill, Aus. The community reception to the name has been 50:50 and half want it changed to sp. Broken Hill, but alot of people love the name for it's hilarity
Id go for secret squirrel any day all day long for a undescribed species name. Im over location names...to standard
 
Id go for secret squirrel any day all day long for a undescribed species name. Im over location names...to standard
We hardly even get as far as that. Most of our Selenotypus just have numbers as sp. Names, and a ton of Phlogius ones have duplicate names that nobody is aware of. We have the only known species of T confirmed to spend LITERAL MONTHS underwater on a floodplain, and we cant even be bothered to give that thing a placeholder genus yet! I thought everyone would be grateful to get a new sp. named so soon after discovery
 
We hardly even get as far as that. Most of our Selenotypus just have numbers as sp. Names, and a ton of Phlogius ones have duplicate names that nobody is aware of. We have the only known species of T confirmed to spend LITERAL MONTHS underwater on a floodplain, and we cant even be bothered to give that thing a placeholder genus yet! I thought everyone would be grateful to get a new sp. named so soon after discovery
I have noticed this about some of what you guys have as you post pictures of stuff.

That floodplain T seems like it would be an extremely valauble species to study just on an adaptive basis.
Hey I got an idea.....why dont you suggest a name?? Maybe that one will stick to lol.

you think Its a new possible new genera though? that would be quite the single species adaptation.
 
I have noticed this about some of what you guys have as you post pictures of stuff.

That floodplain T seems like it would be an extremely valauble species to study just on an adaptive basis.
Hey I got an idea.....why dont you suggest a name?? Maybe that one will stick to lol.

you think Its a new possible new genera though? that would be quite the single species adaptation.
It was actually filmed in high quality on a recent documentary called the Magical Land of Oz, and i noted a few features at the time that stood out from existing genera. Probably the most exciting feature is the rich reddy orange colouration, but i remember thinking to myself it had a strongly thick set build and a more raised carapace than most genera here. The fact it wasn't immediately labelled under a genus is a pretty good indication its something new.

Unfortunately, Northern Territory is just stupidly strict with invert collection so that probably hasn't helped researchers get their hands on any without traveling there in person
 
and i noted a few features at the time that stood out from existing genera. Probably the most exciting feature is the rich reddy orange colouration, but i remember thinking to myself it had a strongly thick set build and a more raised carapace than most genera here. The fact it wasn't immediately labelled under a genus is a pretty good indication its something new.
Man thats totally exciting, that it may be a completely new genera!! Not much more exciting than a new genera, or even a sub family, really doesn't happen that much!!
Where could I maybe find that Doc?

Also what is the depths it lives under in the flood plain?

Unfortunately, Northern Territory is just stupidly strict with invert collection so that probably hasn't helped researchers get their hands on any without traveling there in person
Too bad, one day im sure someone will get there hands on one in science
 
Man thats totally exciting, that it may be a completely new genera!! Not much more exciting than a new genera, or even a sub family, really doesn't happen that much!!
Where could I maybe find that Doc?

Also what is the depths it lives under in the flood plain?


Too bad, one day im sure someone will get there hands on one in science
I think the water comes up like 1 or 2 metres, just over the height of a really tall person. One suggestion is they climb up debris to refresh the air bubbles over around them, which implies fully walking around under the water
 
I think the water comes up like 1 or 2 metres, just over the height of a really tall person. One suggestion is they climb up debris to refresh the air bubbles over around them, which implies fully walking around under the water
The implications of all of that would probably be one of the most profound discoveries in Arachnids once truly understood and classified. Just thinking of it walking around underwater is pretty mind blowing....

Do you think there would be any changes in the setae or dispersion of setae to allow for complete submersion? I dont know why but my mind keeps going to some sort of needed change of the van der waals forces tarantulas usually use. Maybe thats silly idk but that what my mind is trying to wrap its head around is all the needed changes for all of that environment to be made possible.
 
The implications of all of that would probably be one of the most profound discoveries in Arachnids once truly understood and classified. Just thinking of it walking around underwater is pretty mind blowing....

Do you think there would be any changes in the setae or dispersion of setae to allow for complete submersion? I dont know why but my mind keeps going to some sort of needed change of the van der waals forces tarantulas usually use. Maybe thats silly idk but that what my mind is trying to wrap its head around is all the needed changes for all of that environment to be made possible.
It's entirely possible they use the complex oxygen exchange systems some diving beetles use to entirely remove the need to surface for air, all it would need for this is specialised setae around the book lungs. In said documentary, the tarantula is completely covered by a silver bubble lining when submerged.

This is behind the scenes footage, after seeing it again it bares a strong resemblance to Selenotypus. But I still believe it to be a new generea
 

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