Meet The Psychedelic Earth Spider, A Funky Burrowing Arachnid That's Facing Eviction

Some animal names really like to keep you guessing. Just take the “psychedelic earth tiger,” for example. Not a hallucinogen, planet, or tiger, but in fact a very cool spider.

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Also known as the LSD earth tiger, or Indian rainbow tarantula, this vibrant species has earned itself a spot on Fauna & Flora’s 10 Species To Watch list for 2026. The goal? To bring some of the planet’s weirdest and most wonderful wildlife to our attention, and the critical conservation action needed to ensure their survival.

“The species we share our planet with are truly extraordinary,” said Kristian Teleki, CEO, Fauna & Flora, in a release emailed to IFLScience. “From the most peculiar of rays, to the majestic falcon, to the tulips we buy in our supermarkets each day, every plant and animal plays a unique and essential role in sustaining life on Earth.”

“But time is running out. With less than five years to go until 2030, a guiding star for many global nature and climate goals, we can no longer afford to delay action to protect and restore our planet’s natural wonders. The pressures facing nature are severe, and species populations are declining at an alarming rate.”

Cilantica devamatha – A funky arachnid facing eviction

In the tropical forests of the southern Western Ghats in Kerala, India, a female-led team of spider experts are getting behind one of the region’s most unusual native species. The region’s tropical forests are the only place on Earth this species call home. Or at least, that’s how it’s supposed to be.

The illegal pet trade has zoned in on these tarantulas, and it’s easy to see why. They have a very funky get-up, sporting vibrant and metallic iridescence that no doubt looks very cool in a terrarium, but it’s much more badass in the wild.

Psychedelic earth tigers are also at risk from habitat loss and degradation. They live in deep burrows in forest soils, only emerging at night to hunt, but their suitable habitat is shrinking due to human activity.

It’s a precarious position for a species that was only described in 2014. Unfortunately, new-to-science species already facing extinction at the time of their discovery is an increasingly common trend among animals and plants.

With the support of the Conservation Leadership Programme (CLP), the Western Ghats team is working to safeguard the future of these tarantulas through field surveys, community engagement and awareness initiatives. They join scores of people working tirelessly across the globe to protect other weird and wonderful creatures.

“Our annual Species to Watch list offers insight into the key challenges facing some of the world’s most vulnerable species, including habitat loss, deforestation, illegal wildlife trade and climate change,” said Teleki. “But it also shines a spotlight on the weird and wonderful plants and animals we are working to protect, and on the inspiring people and partners Fauna & Flora works with across the globe to deliver effective conservation action.”

“In challenging times, it stands as a beacon of hope.”