American store offers rare spider from Socotra for sale

WORLD, July 01 (YPA) -Foreign websites continue illegally selling rare animals stolen from the occupied Yemeni Island of Socotra in exchangefor large sums of money since the Saudi-led coalition took control over the island, which is far from military confrontations with Sanaa forces.

Tarantulaspiders website published an advertisement offering to sell the Monocentropus balfouri, “tarantula spiders”, stolen from Socotra at a price of $ 130.00.

Environmental experts say the spiders have become a source of wealth and a new area for the vast illegal trade, estimated at millions of dollars.

According to experts, the “Monocentrobus Balfour” belongs to the family of pet tarantula spiders, and its common name is “Blue Socotra Baboon Spider”, and is one of the most sought after types which has entered the pet trade during the past few years.

The Monocentropus is spreading on the islands of Socotra and Madagascar, and it is one of the flying spiders, and is very popular among reptile breeding enthusiasts. They want to acquire it because of its beautiful colors, and it was chosen in 2014 as the most beautiful flying spider in the world.

The average age of a female Monocentrobus balfouri spider is between 10-14 years, and males are between 3-4 years old.

Between 1999 and 2003, researchers observed the introduction of some variants in their colors, showing ripples from red to yellow and dark yellow, making them more desirable.

E.M