Anopsolobus facts for kids

The Anopsolobus subterraneus is a very special type of spider. It is the only known species in its group, or genus, called Anopsolobus. This tiny spider belongs to a family of spiders known as Orsolobidae. It was first discovered and described by scientists Raymond Robert Forster and Norman I. Platnick in 1985. So far, this unique spider has only been found in the area of Nelson, New Zealand.

What Does Its Name Mean?

The name Anopsolobus subterraneus tells us a lot about this spider! The first part, "Anopsolobus", means "without eyes". This is because this spider truly has no eyes at all. The second part, "subterraneus", means "underground". This refers to the deep, dark place where this spider lives.

How Was This Spider Discovered?

Scientists Raymond Forster and Norman Platnick described Anopsolobus subterraneus in 1985. They found only one female spider. This tiny creature was discovered about 4 meters (or 13 feet) underground! It was found in a special hole drilled into the ground, called a bore.

The scientists were actually trying to catch small water animals. But when the water level went down, they found this land-dwelling spider instead. This discovery showed that amazing creatures can live in unexpected places, even deep below the surface! Scientists believe Anopsolobus might be closely related to another spider group called Tangata.

What Does It Look Like?

The only Anopsolobus subterraneus ever found was very small, measuring just 1.96 millimeters long. That's less than a tenth of an inch! It has no color, meaning it is unpigmented. This is common for animals that live in complete darkness.

One of its most interesting features is that it has no eyes. Its body is also covered in many tiny hairs. These hairs might help it feel its way around in its dark underground home.

See also

In Spanish: Anopsolobus para niños