Up to 40 new spider species unearthed in Queensland

A journey thousands of kilometres long has unearthed up to 40 new spider species from Queensland as part of two scientists' year-long project to revise Australian wishbone spiders.

These burrowing spiders live throughout dry and tropical regions of Australia and get their name due to their y-shaped burrows.

Each burrow has a main entry and a second hidden entrance the arachnids can use to escape.

READ MORE: Rescued Aussie surfers share their amazing story for the first time

Dr Jeremy Wilson, alongside Queensland Museum Network arachnologist, Dr Michael Rix, collected 136 specimens over the past six months as part of extensive fieldwork.

"As well as discovering this incredible diversity, prior to the fieldwork we didn't really understand the amazing variety of behaviours exhibited by wishbone spider species in Queensland, with the spiders constructing a variety of different silken burrows and occurring in different habitats," Wilson said.

"We are working to submit our first paper, on the eastern Australian sub-tropical and tropical wishbone spiders, by the end of 2023."

But the work is not done yet, the pair are now preparing to describe the species.

READ MORE: Polar blast to bring snow for parts of NSW as winter hits back

"Using molecular sequencing we will be able to study the evolution of the group across Australia, which is very exciting," Rix said.

"This is an amazing project to be a part of, with a principal aim of performing a complete taxonomic revision of Australia's most diverse genus of mygalomorph spiders."

By better understanding the species' taxonomy, it's hoped more can be done to conserve the eight-legged critters.