The newly discovered Trichopolma grande has unusually hairy legs for a ground-dwelling species. It's also much larger than its relatives and scientists aren't sure why.

Name: Hairy giant tarantula (Trichopelma grande)

Where it lives: Western Cuba

What it eats: Insects, lizards, frogs and other small reptile

Why it's awesome:

Arachnophobes may not appreciate the discovery of a previously unseen "giant" species of tarantula, but for fans of these misunderstood creatures, Trichopolma grande is a special find. Not only is it larger and hairier than other spiders in its genus, it is the only species with long, fluffy, "feathery" legs.

T. grande was first discovered in 2008 in Viñales National Park, a biodiversity hotspot in western Cuba. Only four specimens have been seen so far: three adult males and one juvenile male, all found in trapdoor burrows on the ground.

The genus Trichopolma consists of 23 species, all members of which are very small tarantulas. As its name suggests, T. grande is the largest known member of the genus, with body lengths ranging from 0.33 to 0.44 inches (8.4 to 11.2 millimeters). However, the spider's most famous feature is its unusually hairy legs.

Hairy legs are typically associated with arboreal tarantulas – called tree tarantulas – so this feature is very unusual for a ground-dwelling species.

David Ortiz, a researcher at Masaryk University in the Czech Republic and lead author of a study describing the species, said the long hairy legs may help tarantulas defend themselves from predators such as birds or snakes.

"Feather duster" legs.

"The feathery legs are even more interesting and may be linked to deterring predators — the hairier, the more impressive," Ortiz told Live Science in an email. "This could be particularly useful for males, as they have a 'roaming' way of life, unlike females who stay in their burrows almost all the time. Females may not be as hairy as males, but we are not sure yet. these are just hypotheses ."

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More leg hairs likely also increase the spider's sensitivity to external stimuli such as air currents, helping them detect the movement of predators and prey. Being larger can also help spiders catch food such as insects, frogs, lizards and other small reptiles.

These tarantulas are probably not dangerous to humans. "Tarantulas usually have a very mild sting, probably less severe than a bee sting. I expect the same from this species," Ortiz said.

Males are nomadic and leave their homes in search of females to mate with. No females of this species have yet been discovered, so less is known about their behavior.

"I think such a unique species deserves to be explored more," Ortiz said. "Viñales National Park is particularly threatened by human activity (e.g. logging) and extreme weather events such as hurricanes. The Viñales Valley is deeply disturbed and only the forest areas in the mogotes (hills) and sierras scattered along the valley remain intact."