The color arises from the arrangement of “biological photonic nanostructures, not pigments,” that is, the violet and metallic blue color—or even electric blue—does not arise from the presence of blue pigmentation: “[Mas sim] the unique structure of your hair [as cerdas]that contains nanostructures that manipulate light to create this striking blue appearance,” explained Chomphuphuang.
The characteristic metallic blue and purple color is present on various parts of the spider’s body: on the legs, the chelicerae (pincershaped appendages in front of the mouth) and on the carapace (upper shell).
The study highlights that the coloration and other characteristics of the spiders found vary depending on gender and age. For example, females and young males have more purple bristles than metallic blue ones.
Capturing the spider, which lived in hollow trees, was difficult and required afternoon and evening walks at low tide, resulting in two captures. They are located in the Khon Kaen University Entomology Museum in Khon Kaen (Thailand) and the Natural History Museum of the National Science Museum in Pathum Thani (Thailand).
The paper states that the spider has already been spotted on the commercial tarantula market, although without information about its characteristics or natural habits such as adaptability to land or arboreal environments.