×
GreekEnglish

×
  • Politics
  • Diaspora
  • World
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Cooking
Saturday
13
Sep 2025
weather symbol
Athens 26°C
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • World
  • Diaspora
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Mediterranean Cooking
  • Weather
Contact follow Protothema:
Powered by Cloudevo
> World

A ‘Unicorn” tarantula has as weird horn on its back

It was recently discovered in Angola

Newsroom February 17 02:57

A species of tarantula that was recently discovered in Angola has something in common with the mythical unicorn — a prominent “horn.” But in the spider’s case, the horn is growing from the creature’s back.

The unusual arachnid belongs to a tarantula group known as horned baboon spiders. But in all other known species in this group, the “horn” is short and hardened. In the new species, however, the structure is elongated and soft, researchers wrote in a new study.

They collected eight individuals of the newfound species — now named Ceratogyrus attonitifer — from woodland habitats, during surveys conducted in southeastern Angola in 2015 and 2016. Its species name is derived from the Latin root “attonit,” which means “astonishment,” reflecting how surprised the scientists were to discover the remarkable arachnid, the study authors reported.

Dense fur made of short, black hairs covers much of the tarantulas’ bodies, which measure 1.3 inches (34 millimeters) long, on average. The long, floppy horns extending over the spiders’ backs are in some cases longer than their carapaces (the back portion of their bodies), the scientists wrote. While the base of the horn is hard, the rest is soft and “bag-like” in the living spiders; in preserved specimens, it shrivels up and turns darker.

>Related articles

Spiders From Mars? Strange formations spotted at Martian Pole (photo)

Shocking weird things that were normal for Mayans (video)

Beyond Myth & Legend: Tracing the Footsteps of Unicorns in Ancient Cultures

The horn is both astonishing and mysterious, as scientists have yet to learn what the spiders use it for, according to the study.

source livescience.com

Ask me anything

Explore related questions

#Horn#spider#tarantula#unicorn#weird
> More World

Follow en.protothema.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news

See all the latest News from Greece and the World, the moment they happen, at en.protothema.gr

> Latest Stories

Massive demonstration in London against illegal immigration and for freedom of speech (videos)

September 13, 2025

Double poll by Marc for To Thema before and after the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) – ND gained 1.7 points, reaching 31%

September 13, 2025

Poland on drone threat alert – Two Russian drones shot down by Romania, see video

September 13, 2025

Greek History & Culture Seminars – “Homer and Archaeology”: Is the quest worth pursuing?

September 13, 2025

London on alert – Authorities on the alert for the rally in support of freedom of expression, 1,000 police on the streets

September 13, 2025

Mitsotakis visited a beneficiary of the Home Delivery of High Cost Drugs program

September 13, 2025

Over 120,000 arrested for various offenses in 2024 – Foreigners make up 55% of prison inmates

September 13, 2025

Eurobasket: Sengun’s provocative post with Kemal after the qualification against Greece and the comment “Did the sea breeze bother you?”

September 13, 2025
All News

> World

Massive demonstration in London against illegal immigration and for freedom of speech (videos)

A few days after the murder of Charlie Kirk, tens of thousands of people took to the streets carrying flags of Britain, England, but also of the USA & Israel

September 13, 2025

Poland on drone threat alert – Two Russian drones shot down by Romania, see video

September 13, 2025

London on alert – Authorities on the alert for the rally in support of freedom of expression, 1,000 police on the streets

September 13, 2025

“You have no idea what forces you unleashed across the country”: The speech of Charlie Kirk’s widow in her first public intervention (videos)

September 13, 2025

Four skyscrapers that will break all records – One of them will reach 2000 meters

September 12, 2025
Homepage
PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION POLICY COOKIES POLICY TERM OF USE
Powered by Cloudevo
Copyright © 2025 Πρώτο Θέμα