Critically Endangered Kangaroo Island Assassin Spider on Brink of Extinction Due to Drought, Bushfires, and Invasive Diseases

The Kangaroo Island assassin spider, a relic from 150 million years ago, is on the verge of extinction due to a combination of threats, including near-record drought, devastating bushfires, and an invasive plant root disease. The spider’s last remaining habitat, located in the north-west of Kangaroo Island in South Australia, has been severely impacted by these factors, leaving the species with a precarious existence. Conservation biologist Jane Ogilvie, working with the charity Invertebrates Australia, has been searching for the spider for five weeks, but so far, only one tiny juvenile has been found. The spider’s habitat, a moist microclimate of leaf litter, is essential for its survival, but the drought and bushfires have dried out the area, making it difficult for the spider to survive.

Natural-Born Assassins

The Kangaroo Island assassin spider is one of 11 invertebrates on the federal government’s priority list of threatened species. The assassin family of spiders, which gets its name from their habit of slowly stalking and eating other spiders, is found only in Australia, Madagascar, and parts of southern Africa. The Kangaroo Island assassin spider was first discovered in 2010 by Dr. Michael Rix, the principal scientist and curator of arachnology at the Queensland Museum, who, along with his colleague Mark Harvey, formally described the species. Rix describes the spider as having an “incredible elevated head and long spear-like mouth parts,” making it unmistakable. The spider’s ancient lineage, dating back 150 million years, makes it a significant species for conservation efforts.

Some key highlights of the Kangaroo Island assassin spider include:
* It is a critically endangered species, with only one tiny juvenile found in the last five weeks of searching.
* The spider’s habitat is limited to a small area in the north-west of Kangaroo Island, which has been severely impacted by drought, bushfires, and invasive diseases.
* The spider has a unique appearance, with an elevated head and long spear-like mouth parts.
* It is an ancient species, with a lineage dating back 150 million years.

Threats to the Spider’s Survival

The Kangaroo Island assassin spider is facing a trifecta of threats, including:
* Near-record drought, which has dried out the spider’s habitat and made it difficult for the species to survive.
* Devastating bushfires, which have burned through large areas of potential habitat, leaving the spider with limited options for survival.
* Invasive plant root disease, which is damaging the forest canopy and the plants that hold the leaf litter where the spiders live, further drying out the habitat.

According to Dr. Rix, “If we look at the risks and are realistic, they’re potentially one big fire away from extinction. By all objective measures, its existence is phenomenally precarious.” The spider’s survival is also threatened by the lack of rainfall, with the area experiencing one of the driest periods on record. As Ogilvie notes, “We get so excited when we find a good area, but then it’s deflating. Everything is so dry – it’s hardly rained for two years.”

It’s Being Squeezed

The Kangaroo Island assassin spider is being squeezed into smaller and smaller areas, making it increasingly difficult for the species to survive. Dr. Jess Marsh, a research fellow at the University of Adelaide and an invertebrate conservation biologist, notes that “It’s being squeezed into smaller and smaller areas. Each survey we do is increasing our confidence that it’s restricted to this patch of vegetation, and nowhere else.” The idea of establishing a breeding program for the spiders in a zoo is being discussed, but removing individuals from the wild carries clear risks that Marsh says wouldn’t be taken lightly.

Some key quotes from experts include:
* “If we look at the risks and are realistic, they’re potentially one big fire away from extinction.” – Dr. Michael Rix
* “It’s being squeezed into smaller and smaller areas. Each survey we do is increasing our confidence that it’s restricted to this patch of vegetation, and nowhere else.” – Dr. Jess Marsh
* “We get so excited when we find a good area, but then it’s deflating. Everything is so dry – it’s hardly rained for two years.” – Jane Ogilvie

Ghost Extinctions

The precarious situation of the Kangaroo Island assassin spider is part of a much bigger wave of largely unseen extinctions of invertebrates. Officially, Australia lists only one invertebrate as extinct – the Lake Pedder earthworm. However, research released last year by Rix, Marsh, and colleagues estimated that since the European invasion of Australia, about 9,000 invertebrates had likely suffered a so-called ghost extinction – “the loss of undiscovered species that have left no trace.” Rix notes that “Some people might say, ‘who cares about a tiny spider going extinct?’ But this is part of the quantum of invertebrate extinctions that we’re experiencing right now. This might be a problem that creeps up on us.”

Some key data and statistics include:
* Only one tiny juvenile Kangaroo Island assassin spider has been found in the last five weeks of searching.
* The spider’s habitat has been severely impacted by drought, bushfires, and invasive diseases.
* The species is estimated to be 150 million years old.
* About 9,000 invertebrates are estimated to have suffered a ghost extinction since the European invasion of Australia.

Conclusion:
The Kangaroo Island assassin spider is on the brink of extinction due to a combination of threats, including drought, bushfires, and invasive diseases. The species’ ancient lineage and unique appearance make it a significant species for conservation efforts. However, the lack of rainfall, devastating bushfires, and invasive plant root disease have pushed the species to the edge of extinction. It is essential that conservation efforts are made to protect the spider’s habitat and ensure the species’ survival.

Keywords:
* Kangaroo Island assassin spider
* Critically endangered species
* Drought
* Bushfires
* Invasive diseases
* Conservation efforts
* Ancient species
* Unique appearance
* Ghost extinctions
* Invertebrate extinctions

Hashtags:
#KangarooIslandAssassinSpider
#CriticallyEndangeredSpecies
#Drought
#Bushfires
#InvasiveDiseases
#ConservationEfforts
#AncientSpecies
#UniqueAppearance
#GhostExtinctions
#InvertebrateExtinctions



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