Arachnid · GBIF taxon 2140568
Unicorn toconao
Unicorn toconaoUnicorn toconao is a minute goblin spider specialized for survival in the high-elevation arid environments of northern Chile. Roaming rocky substrates and sparse scrub under cover of darkness, males sport a distinct pointed horn between their eyes and jaws that characterizes the genus. These soft-bodied ground hunters stalk tiny soil arthropods through rock crevices, navigating one of the driest landscapes on Earth.
Desert DwellerNocturnalMicro-Predator
Licensed referenceAnimalparty / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Springtails
- Soil mites
- Small insect larvae
Predators
- Ground beetles
- Centipedes
- Scorpions
ThreatsHabitat disruption from mining activities and desertification
HabitatsHigh-altitude semi-desert scrub, rocky scree, and arid river basins
Life span1–2 years
Classification
- FamilyOonopidae
- SpeciesUnicorn toconao
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Use a illuminated hand lens or macro camera to inspect anatomical features.
- Microhabitat search: Gently peer beneath flat, dry stones in gravelly washouts at night.
Same Genus Animalparty / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Same Genus Matías A. Izquierdo , Gonzalo D. Rubio / CC BY 3.0 · cc-by
Same Family (c) Julien Tchilinguirian, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Julien Tchilinguirian · cc-by
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