Species Atewa Dinospider

Atewa Dinospider

Atewa Dinospider (Ricinoides atewa). This ancient arachnid was found during a 2006 expedition to Ghana's Atewa Range Forest Reserve (America, Insect, New Species, Spider, Atewa) led by RAP.

This strange little creature looks like a cross between a spider and a crab, and males have their reproductive organs on their legs. They are considered quite rare, with only 57 other species known from this group throughout the world. It belongs to a lineage of animals that have remained virtually unchanged since the Carboniferous, over 300 million years ago.

Currently, they are found only in Central and South America, and West Africa. This new species is part of the complex cycle of circulating organic matter in the ecosystem. They feed on termites and ant larvae. It is the largest living member of this group of animals (11 mm long).