Warrior huntsman discovered in Australian Alps Bush Blitz

An 11-day expedition to discover new species in Australia’s Alpine region has uncovered three new species of spider previously unknown to science.

A warrior huntsman with a shield on its chest, a tiny 3 millimetre jumping spider that looks like a liquorice-all-sort and a wraparound spider that impersonates a tree branch have just been discovered as part of the Australian Alps Bush Blitz species discovery expedition.

The Alps Bush Blitz expedition boasts 15 scientists including botanists and zoologists from Parks Australia’s National Seed Bank in Canberra, the Australian Museum, the Museums Victoria Research Institute, the National Herbaria of NSW and Victoria and the University of New South Wales.

Five science teachers are also on the expedition. This allows teachers to work as field assistants to bring the expedition directly into the classroom in real time via a dedicated website.

Bush Blitz is a partnership between the Australian Government through Parks Australia, BHP and Earthwatch Australia.

Quotes attributable to Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek:

“The discovery of three new spiders in the Australian alps is fantastic.

“Around three-quarters of Australia’s biodiversity is still waiting to be discovered by science.

“Programs like Bush Blitz are giving us a deeper understanding of Australian habitats so that we can make nature positive decisions for the future.

“Congratulations to Joseph Schubert and the team for their exciting finds.”

Quotes attributable to arachnologist Joseph Schubert of the Museums Victoria Research Institute, who discovered the new spiders:

“The Australian Alps is an incredible place for an expedition, and we hope to find even more species before the expedition is complete.

“Most people associate spiders with the outback dunny door, but spiders are hugely diverse. From the infamous shield huntsman with war paint on his legs and a shield on his chest to frighten off predators, to tiny the jumping spiders that look like eight-eyed puppies.

“Spiders are also experts at camouflage. The wraparound spider is a ferocious nocturnal mini-hunter that impersonates a tree branch during the day to hide from predators.”