In New Zealand, scientists recently discovered an entirely new spider genus, named Ourea. Going undetected until now, these spiders have twelve different species, located in the rocky regions of New Zealand. Let’s learn about this new discovery!

In July of 2024, Robin Long and a team of biologists traveled to the alpine zone of New Zealand to study the spiders living there. They ended up collecting over 170 individual jumping spiders. At first, the team assumed these spiders were all very common, but that turned out to be wrong. Jumping spiders, which are found all over New Zealand and Australia, are harmless to humans. They do have venom, but medical testing has shown it isn’t dangerous to people. At first, the researchers didn’t think much of their discovery. But after looking closely and doing DNA tests, they realized something exciting: those 170 spiders weren’t all the same. They actually belonged to 12 completely new species that had never been recorded before! And because these 12 species were so different from any known group, the scientists gave them their own special genus name: Ourea. 

Why is Ourea Special?

Ourea spiders live in harsh, rocky mountainous areas, making them quite a unique species. Their incredible adaptability skills allow them to hide successfully in the crevices of the New Zealand mountains. Many spiders would not be able to survive the climate of the New Zealand mountains, According to the Daily Galaxy, “It’s a place where temperatures can swing dramatically, from -15 °C (5 °F) to 27 °C (80 °F), and the winds can reach speeds of up to 180 kilometers per hour (112 miles per hour).” Additionally, they’ve adapted by blending in with their surroundings, using camouflage to hide from predators. That’s probably how they stayed hidden for so long!

What does this discovery mean for science? Why does it matter?

Discovering Ourea this late in its existence shows us how much is still unknown about our planet and nature, and pushes scientists to keep working hard for our planet. Even in places we think we know well, like New Zealand, brand-new animals can be hiding in plain sight. Learning about these spiders can help scientists protect mountain habitats and understand how animals survive in extreme environments.

Why is this such big news all of a sudden?

Even though these spiders were officially named and published in a scientific paper way back in 2024, the story is only now getting attention. That sounds strange, but really is very normal in science. Sometimes things don't make it into the news right away, especially when they're stuck on technical journals or university websites. But when science blogs, social media, and the news begin to report the story, it can spread like wildfire.

That's exactly what happened with Ourea. Over the past several months, reports and videos explaining these spiders that were discovered started popping up everywherem biology websites to network television! Everybody was shocked at how these creatures were able to stay hidden for so long, and how something completely new to science could be sitting right there out in the open. The spiders’ cool mountain habitat, along with their unusual discovery story, helped Ourea become one of the most talked-about new animal discoveries of the year.