A trap spider found in Western Australia may be the oldest spider on record, and scientists have revealed the secret to their longevity.
According to the Daily Mail, the female trap spider, Gaius Villosus, has a 43-year-old life span, breaking the previous world record set by a 28-year-old Mexican tarantula, according to the Daily Mail.
Through population studies in the Central Wheatbelt region since 1974, scientists know the life habits of the spiders.
In a new study published in the journal Pacific Conservation Biology, researchers from Curtin University revealed the secret to the longevity of Gaius Villosus trap spiders.
Scientists have been watching spiders in the region for decades.
"as far as we know, this is the oldest spider ever recorded," said Leanda Mason, a PhD student at the Molecular and Life Academy, the lead author of the report.
"the project was first launched in 1974 by Barbara York Main, who monitored 42 years of spider populations in Central Wheatbelt, Western Australia," said Mason.
"through our research, we have determined that the trap spider can live so long mainly because of its habits, such as its ability to colonize in the pristine jungle and its extremely low metabolic rate."
The trap spiders dig deep underground and use the "trap door" (trapdoor) to cleverly cover them before waiting quietly for their prey to "catch".
Co-author Professor Grant Wardell-Johnson said: "these spiders represent an ancient way of life and through this study we can ascertain the impact of climate change and deforestation on species in the future."