Gooty Sapphire Tarantula

Rediscovered

Gooty sapphire tarantulas get their name from the place they were originally discovered (Gooty, located in Andhra Pradesh, India) in 1897. Because of their extremely small range and limited numbers, these spiders weren’t observed again for over 100 years, and were thought to be extinct.
Fortunately, in 2001, they were re-discovered in a different location, far from the one originally described. Unfortunately, despite their natural range being designated as a forest preserve, their home continues to be exploited for resources (such as logging), and their critically endangered status makes them a target for poachers.