“Frankenstein” spider discovered that is half male and half female

The discovery is particularly notable due to the rarity of the phenomenon of gynandromorphism — when an organism has male sexual characteristics on one side of the body and female on the other — in spiders.

A team of scientists in Thailand has discovered a stunning new species of spider, the Damarch in Inazumwhich appears to be divided into two, half female and half male. The rare phenomenon, known as ginandromoorphismgives the spider a peculiar appearance and marks the first recorded case of this type in the Bemmeridae family.

The discovery was made by researchers from the Center of Excellence in Entomology at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, who were studying unidentified spider specimens collected in the forests of western Thailand. The specimens were preserved in ethanol and examined in detail before scientists concluded that they belonged to the genus Damarchus, a group of mygalomorph spiders found in South Asia.

Among the spiders collected, the team identified individuals that displayed male and female characteristics on opposite sides of the body, the left side being orange and larger, like a female, and the right side smaller and grayish, typical of males. This bilateral division, the researchers said, results from a cell division error during early development that causes the animal to express both sexes simultaneously.

Although gynandromorphism has been observed in other species, such as butterflies, bees and birds, it is extremely rare in spidersespecially in the group of mygalomorphs — the same ancient lineage that includes tarantulas. These spiders are known for their primitive characteristics, including downward-facing fangs and burrow-dwelling behavior rather than web-building.

The researchers reported their findings in the journal Zootaxa, where they confirmed Damarchus inazuma as a new species awaiting molecular verification.

To choose the name of the spider, scientists were inspired by Inazumaa character from the popular Japanese manga One Piece who has the ability to switch between male and female forms and features a similar bilateral color pattern — orange on one side, white on the other.

“Inazuma’s coloring and symmetry perfectly mirror what we see in this species,” the researchers explained. “It is a visual and symbolic reflection of the complexity of nature.”