Research in the journal PLOS ONE said DNA sequences shows it actually belongs to a genus of trapdoor spiders otherwise found only in South Africa and split from its closest relatives between two and 16 million years ago. "But our research showed that the divergence of Moggridgea rainbow from African Moggridgea trapdoor spiders occurred sometime between two and 16 million years ago, well after the Africa-Gondwana separation." This leaves long-distance travel across the Indian Ocean as the only other logical explanation, the study said. "But there are precedents of such ocean travel. "However this is a relatively short distance compared with the 10,000 kilometres from South Africa to Kangaroo Island."

Source: The Nation Bangkok August 03, 2017 01:18 UTC