Four new species of tarantula named Satyrex have been identified in the Arabian Peninsula and Horn of Africa. These species have the longest genitalia among tarantulas, evolved not for dominance but to prevent males from being killed during mating. Satyrex ferox, the largest species, has a legspan of 14 cm and palps reaching 5 cm. The long palps likely allow males to maintain a safer distance from aggressive females during mating, contributing to their survival.
The males of these spiders have the longest palps among all known tarantulas, which are the specialized appendages used by male spiders to transfer sperm during mating.
Based on both morphological and molecular data, they are so distinct from their closest relatives that we had to establish an entirely new genus to classify them, and we named it Satyrex.
Satyrex ferox, the largest of the four new species, has a legspan of about 14 cm and a male's palp can reach a length of 5 cm.
We have tentatively suggested that the long palps might allow the male to keep a safer distance during mating and help him avoid being attacked and devoured by the highly aggressive female.
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