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The spruce- fi r moss spider lives only under green moss on boulders high in the mountains, above 5,300 feet. The moss gives the spider a safe place and food. Fir trees keep the moss wet and shady by collecting cloud moisture. Glenn Taylor, a biologist at the park, says, "If the moss dries out, the spider can’t survive." But now, the spider is in trouble. Bugs are killing the trees, which changes the forest and takes away the shade and moisture. The weather is getting warmer too. Because of this, the spider is being pushed to cooler places, like north-facing rock slopes, where the moss stays wet. A Shrinking Home Key Facts About the Spruce Fir Moss Spider Endangered and Rare The Spruce Fir Moss Spider is a rare and endangered spider found in North American spruce and fi r forests. Very Small This spider is tiny, only about 0.1 inch long, and hides easily among moss and lichen. Camou fl aged With green and brown colors, it blends perfectly with its surroundings. Web Weaver Despite its size, it spins delicate webs close to the ground. Nocturnal Hunter It hunts at night, using touch and vibrations to fi nd small insects. Short Lifespan The spider lives for about one year, making its protection very important.
The Spruce-Fir Moss Spider is as small as a tiny BB pellet, making it the smallest tarantula in the world! In Tennessee, there are 132 endangered animals, but this spider is special because it's the only one like it in the state. You can find this tiny spider in the high forests with Fraser fir and red spruce trees in eastern Tennessee. It's protected in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The spider was first found in 1923 on Mount Mitchell in North Carolina. Because it’s so small and hides well, we don’t know much about it. In 1995, the spruce-fir moss spider was listed as endangered. There were only five groups of these spiders living in three mountain areas in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee.
Source: https://www.wate.com/news/did-you-know-tennessee-is-home-to-one-of-few-endangered-spiders/
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