@Stormbringer
Terrifying A new species of venomous spider is discovered in Miami that looks like a 'small shiny black tarantula' and can live for over 20 YEARS
Scientists have found a new species of spider in Miami that looks like a 'small shiny black tarantula' and has venom that induces painful stings just like a bee.
The Pine Rockland trapdoor spider (Ummidia richmond) was first found by a zookeeper in the grounds of Zoo Miami in Florida.
With legs extended, the male is approximately the size of a one pound coin, while the female is estimated to be two to three times larger.
Ummidia is a trapdoor spider – meaning it lives in a burrow with a hinged cover like a trapdoor to hide from predators and snatch unlucky prey.
Spiders of this type can live for decades in the same burrow for their entire life.
The female has a lifespan upwards of 20 years, while the male takes up to seven years to mature before it leaves its burrow to find a mate and dies shortly after.
'The individuals that zoo staff encountered were wandering males,' Dr Godwin said.