The Truth About the World’s Most Adorable Horned Spider
What do you think about this “The Truth About the World’s Most Adorable Horned Spider” problem?
Hidden behind this spider lies some very unique facts, such as the surprising truth… it’s not an actual spider.
The natural world truly has everything. From the fiercest survival battles, mesmerizing beauty, to creatures so bizarre that no one would think they actually exist.
Take, for example, the spider in the image below. At first glance, it seems like a product of Photoshop, but it’s a real creature.
It looks like an ordinary spider, except for its body that sprouts two horns, resembling a demonic face.
This photograph was captured by scientist Andreas Kay in July 2017 in Ecuador. Its body shape may remind some people of a black wolf with rabbit-like ears.
And do you know the strangest thing about this creature? It’s not a spider, even though it looks just like one.
This peculiar creature is scientifically named Metagryne bicolumnata, but locals refer to it as the “bunny harvestman” or “horned spider.” It belongs to a group of arachnid-like arthropods known as daddy long-legs, comprising over 6,600 species.
“It may look ‘dangerous’, but they have no venom and pose no threat to humans,” said Andreas Kay. “They’ve existed for at least 400 million years, even predating the age of dinosaurs.”
The bunny harvestman was first discovered in 1959 by German arachnid expert Carl Friedrich Roewer. Despite its long history, scientists are still unsure why it evolved such a bizarre appearance. It seems that certain evolutionary factors led it to develop a black body, two ear-like structures, and two yellow spots resembling eyes.
Interestingly, those two yellow spots are just false eyes. Its actual eyes are located on the front of its head.
According to Kay, there might be a reason for its special appearance – it could be “cosplaying” as a larger predator. However, this theory has yet to be verified.
Moreover, no in-depth research has been conducted on this species aside from a few studies published over 60 years ago. Part of the challenge lies in Ecuador’s vast biodiversity, making comprehensive studies difficult.
Scientists have long recognized the Amazon rainforest as one of the most species-rich ecosystems, with tropical rainforests in the Americas harboring more biodiversity than their counterparts in Africa and Asia.
Spanning more than 7 million square kilometers, the Amazon rainforest stretches across countries like Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, and several smaller nations. It is home to a diverse array of flora and fauna.
Among the largest rainforests in the Americas, the Amazon stands out with unparalleled biodiversity. Approximately 10% of all known species on Earth exist within the Amazon. It serves as the last stronghold for countless plant and animal species.
