Cryptomaster Behemoth: New 'monster spider' discovered in Oregon

The creature is related to the 'Daddy Long Legs'

A male Cryptomaster Leviathan which is a close relative of the Cryptomaster Behemoth (ZooKey)

A new species of "monster" arachnid called the Cryptomaster Behemoth has been accidentally discovered by scientists in the southwestern forests of Oregon.

The creature was found by Californian researchers on an expedition to study its close relation - the Cryptomaster Leviathan (pictured above).

In a ZooKey article entitled "A new monster from southwest Oregon forests", it is suggested the Behemoth developed differently from the Leviathan as the populations were separated by mountain ranges.

The new species is not technically a spider, and belongs to a separate arachnid order commonly known as Harvestmen, or 'Daddy Long Legs'.

A - Male Cryptomaster leviathan, B - Male Cryptomaster behemoth, C - Female Cryptomaster leviathan, D - Female Cryptomaster behemoth (ZooKey)

Harvestmen and spiders are both arachnids along with scorpions, mites and ticks.

While it only has a 4mm-log body, it is much larger than other similar arachnids.