SYDNEY, July 27 -- A scientific expedition into remote Australian dry tropics on Queensland's Cape York Peninsula has discovered 13 new spider species, it was reported on Monday.

Researchers, teachers and indigenous rangers spent 10 days probing forests and soil in a largely unsurveyed area in a project sponsored by the government, mining company BHP and the Earthwatch Australia environment group.

The team used abalone knives to dig into hard earth to find silk-lined burrows.

A spokeswoman for the project told AAP the 13 new spider types included a brush-footed trapdoor spider and the newly named mouse spider, which lives in a stocking-shaped web.

Then there were also new species of tarantulas.