Species | Gaius villosus |
---|---|
Sex | Female |
Born | 1972 or 1973 North Bungulla Reserve, Western Australia |
Died | 2016 (aged about 43) North Bungulla Reserve, Western Australia |
Known for | Subject of long-term monitoring project; oldest known spider[1] |
Number 16 (c. 1974 – 2016), also known as #16,[1] was a wild female trapdoor spider (Gaius villosus, family Idiopidae) that lived in North Bungulla Reserve near Tammin, Western Australia. She lived an estimated 43 years and became the longest-lived spider on record, beating a 28-year-old tarantula who previously held the title.[1] Number 16 died in 2016 from a parasitic wasp sting.[2]