The research that led to the discovery.Credit: Instituto de Investigación Cueva de Nerja – IICN Facebook page.
A new species of spider has been found in Nerja Cave, as Cueva de Nerja Research Institute informed on their social media. The discovery was made during a research project focused on studying arthropods in the cave.
The species, named Anapistula delrosalae sp. nov., is endemic to Nerja Cave, meaning it exists nowhere else in the world. It was identified by Professor Pablo Barranco, from the University of Almeria, and Cristian Pertegal, a specialist in spider taxonomy from the University of Cordoba. Alberto Tinaut, professor at the University of Granada, also contributed to the study.
This tiny spider, measuring less than a millimeter, had gone unnoticed until now. It had been observed before, but researchers had mistakenly classified it as a juvenile of another species. Only female specimens have been found so far.
Nerja Cave is home to troglobitic fauna, species that have adapted to life underground. These creatures often lose their eyesight, become pale, and also develop slow metabolisms to survive in darkness with limited food. This discovery confirms Nerja Cave’s importance for biodiversity, and also provides new insights into evolution and the hidden world beneath our feet.
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