Watch: Never-before-seen species of spider captured for the first time on video

Captured on camera for the first time, the discovery highlights how even well-studied regions can reveal unknown species.

In Short

• Spanish researchers filmed new spider species Cryptodrassus michaeli
• Tiny, dark brown spider blends with soil and leaf litter
• Video shows spider movement, aiding study of its behaviour

Researchers in Spain have captured the first-ever video of a brand-new spider species called Cryptodrassus michaeli.

This tiny creature was found in the dry province of Almeria, in southeast Spain. It lives hidden in leaf litter and under rocks in the semi-arid Cabo de Gata-Njar Natural Park.

The new species of spider is tiny and can be seen how it looks next to a pencil tip. It has a dark brown body that blends in with the soil and dry leaves.

Scientists say that it is a ground spider, but they still know little about its hunting habits or daily life.

The new footage, released by news agency Associated Press, shows the spider moving slowly across the ground, giving experts their first clear view of its behaviour.

The discovery was officially described in a scientific paper in 2024 by a team of Spanish researchers, but the spider has been captured on camera only now.

It is one of three new spider species found during surveys of the park and shows that even in well-studied parts of Europe, new species can still be waiting to be discovered.

Finding and filming such a small, shy animal takes hard work. Researchers did careful fieldwork, searching through dry leaves and turning over stones. They then studied the spiders in the lab to learn about their body features and role in the local ecosystem.

The video helps scientists see details that are hard to observe in the wild. It reveals the spider’s size, movement, and hints at how it hunts.

Experts hope more studies will show if it helps control insects or supports the balance of the dry habitat.

If anything, this discovery reminds us that biodiversity often hides in plain sight. Even in a popular national park, new species can still be found, highlighting the need to protect these areas as they hold many secrets about life on Earth.

The team behind the discovery continues to study the spider and its environment and want to learn more about what it eats and how it survives the hot, dry conditions of southern Spain.

- Ends