Discovered by a Museum staff member at a secret location east of Sofala, the spider is as big as the palm of your hand, light brown in colour and lives in colonies of up to 20. Initial research suggests their diet consists mostly of bandicoots, bush rats and rabbits.
Dr Peter Lapin, reader in Arachnophobia at Bathurst TAFE, said that the location of the discovery had to be kept secret to protect the less than one hundred known adult specimens, who seemed to thrive in a moist environment with ample decaying organic material. An Australian Museum officer has been appointed guardian of the colony, while attempts are being made to establish a breeding program.
The spiders show signs of intelligence and exhibit a primitive but noticeable social organisation.
Having survived the demise of the Dinosaurs, there is speculation that these spiders must have descended from Asteroid-resistant ancestors. It is thought that research into their physiology might well isolate a gene which could be the salvation of humankind should another such catastrophe occur.