A rare giant spider species found in only one area of Queensland has been discovered.
Euoplos dignitas are large trapdoor spiders that live in open woodland habitats and build burrows in the black soil of the Brigalow Belt in central Queensland.
Scientists at the Queensland Museum gave the new species a name in homage to its enormous size.
"The name Euoplos dignitas is derived from the Latin dignitas, meaning dignity or greatness, which is reflected in the spider's impressive size and nature," said Dr. Michael Rix.
"The species is only found in a very small number of places around Eidsvold and Monto in central Queensland, and has lost much of its habitat due to land reclamation, making it potentially an endangered species."
The discovery follows work carried out by scientists at the Queensland Museum as part of the DIG project, which aims to find and document new species in the state.
"This new spider species is a great example of the Queensland Museum's groundbreaking research," said Leeanne Enoch, Queensland Museum's Minister of the Arts.
The new species has now been published in the Journal of Arachnology.