![\"This](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/4JV67DE_Mataitawa_Bush_KNE_Trapdoor_spider_jpg.jpeg\")
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\nThis spider found in Taranaki could possibly be named a new species.
\nPhoto: Supplied\n<\/p>\n
A Taranaki biologist is overjoyed after discovering what is thought to be a new species of spider.<\/p>\n
Regional Council Biodiversity Officer Sandra S\u00e1nchez found the specimen on a routine visit at a north Taranaki Key Native Ecosystem after she noticed some unusual spider tunnels.<\/p>\n
A close inspection revealed a spider she had never seen before. She took photos and, with the permission of the landowners, uploaded them to nature identification app iNaturalistNZ.<\/p>\n
“I just thought it was a cool spider. I had never seen it before. It looked bigger, and it was quite hairy, and not something you see every day.<\/p>\n
“It just caught my eye the fact that it was different, the size was the first thing I noticed. It’s a fairly large spider.”<\/p>\n
Te Papa PhD student Shaun Thompson contacted her, identifying the spider as a potential new species.<\/p>\n
“He sent me a message through the app, saying he thought it might a new species and it would be great if I could find another specimen and take a photo of the abdomen, so he could look at the pattern there. And so that’s what we did.”<\/p>\n
The spider was very similar to a spider found in Whanganui called the Cantuaria wanganuiensis, but there were some key differences to the patterning on the abdomen, S\u00e1nchez said.<\/p>\n
“They are at the moment trying to review the genus.”<\/p>\n
The discovery meant the arachnid was the most northern distribution of Cantuaria so far discovered in New Zealand, Taranaki Regional Council said.<\/p>\n
![\"Regional](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/4JV67DE_Sandra_Sanchez_and_Rob_Hooper_jpeg.jpeg\")
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\nRegional Council Biodiversity Officer Sandra S\u00e1nchez and landowner Rob Hooper.
\nPhoto: Supplied\n<\/p>\n
Although it might be a long time before the spider would receive its own name, Thompson had suggested it be called the Taranaki trapdoor spider.<\/p>\n
S\u00e1nchez said discovering a new species had been a dream since she was little.<\/p>\n
“I cannot describe how happy it makes me, even though I will not be the one describing it. Spiders are not my expertise – and this is just absolutely fantastic for Shaun as well – but I am really, really happy that I could help.”<\/p>\n
The discovery was a testament to the landowners’ commitment to preserving natural ecosystems, S\u00e1nchez said.<\/p>\n
“I was also delighted for the landowners, Rob Hooper and son Mark, as they work extremely hard to protect these forest remnants, so this is a fitting way to reward them for their mahi.”<\/p>\n
She added that there were likely many more undiscovered species.<\/p>\n
“Especially when it comes to insects or invertebrates in general. We know very little so the more we look, the more new species are going to come to light.”<\/p>\n
Everyone could have a role to play in helping in the discovery of new species through documenting anything they don’t recognise on iNaturalistNZ.<\/p>\n
“Keep an eye out and take photos of everything.”<\/p>\n