It was impossible to resist calling her Spider-Woman. And with over 1,000 known species of eight-legged crawlies (and possibly more to be discovered), Jo-Anne Sewlal, this arachnologist is going to be very busy.

At 27, Sewlal already has a big, fat folder of accomplishments, not the least of which is the fact that she is the first local woman to specialise in spiders. Yes, yes, females aren't supposed to like spiders and all the age-old stereotypical stuff. Well Sewlal does and she wishes that the rest of the country would take notice of the marvellous slice of nature that we have been blessed, instead of seeking at every turn to destroy it.

She finds herself sampling all over the country and never fails to thank God for our ready-made ecosystem of tremendous variety. This island, unlike our Oceanic counterparts 'up the islands', broke off from the South American continent chock-full of exotic flora and fauna.

"On the other islands that I have done research the difference is plain," Sewlal said. "We are so lucky! These other islands still have ecosystems that display signs of not having yet matured. Here we have it all, ready-made and we really need to appreciate that more. Most Caribbean islands can only boast about 80 known species of spiders and we have 1,000!"

That was the first time Sewlal showed real emotion - outside of that she seems to have taken a cue from here furry studies - stay really calm...all the time.

Sewlal said that while there is more interest in and appreciation for nature in the country than she had previously though, the majority of people seem to regard the island as one big "dumping ground".

"Sometimes you would be following what appears to be a pristine trail...then suddenly you stumble on an empty can or wrapper," she said angrily. "How do they even get there? We definitely have a long way to go."

Sewlal often finds herself worrying heavily over the fate of this country - the current industrial thrust seems bent on removing everything green from the island.

Born in San Fernando, Sewlal was home-schooled and so had more freedom to explore her love for nature. She then moved a private secondary school, where her curiosity for nature's curiosities grew.

"Spiders, by the way, are not insects, they are arachnids. You also haven't really seen a spider until you've seen it under a microscope. They are some strange-looking creatures!," Sewlal exclaimed, adding that some of her adventures included being bitten by a spider she thought was "a cute albino".

"Most poisonous spiders, like the one that bit, can't kill or seriously harm an adult because of the large body mass. A child would be more in danger than a grown man," she explained.

Though the list is too long to fit here, some of Sewlal's other accomplishments include Diplomas in Dance, Dress-making and design, Photography, Art, Poetry, Police Science, First Aid...she's also a qualified Veterinary Assistant and has several awards for memorizing Bible Verses in sets of 13.

A crowning moment for her though was being the first recipient of an award from the Greenhall Trust, a body dedicated to assisting aspiring local artists and zoologists.

The Trust was founded in 2005 , the legacy of Elizabeth Greenhall - an artist and prolific art collector - and Arthur Greenhall, a zoologist who made his mark internationally through the study of many creatures. The couple once lived in Trinidad as ex-pats with their two children, Paul and Alice. Elizabeth had settled into the local art scene while Arthur held several zoological positions related to animal discovery and human health. An example could be found in his extensive study of bats, the carrier of deadly rabies.

Paul Greenhall, who heads the Trust, gave a gushing review of Sewlal's work.

"She is precisely the researcher that my father would have liked to have mentored. I was deeply moved by her professionalism when I first met her," Greenhall said. "Her pioneering spirit and desire will indeed help raise T&T's natural heritage profile within the scientific community.

"Dad always believed that Trinidad and Tobago's natural heritage is vibrant, a treasure trove, if you will," Greenhall said. "Yet difficult to conserve and protect, he would say, due to economic interests, urban sprawl and lack of understanding. This places a special emphasis on the importance of Ms Sewlal's research survey."

Greenhall said one would have thought that our arachnids on the Bocas islands would have been better known and studied.

"For example, are there pharmaceutical aspects of arachnid venom which may help cure cancer? How many different types of spiders are there and how many are believed to inhabit T&T?," Greenhall posed.

"With the country seeking economic opportunities through eco-tourism in the hopes of attracting adventure seekers such as hikers, bikers, hashers, kayakers, cross-country runners and so forth, the urgency to know more about T&T arachnid fauna is of import."

Sewlal intends to unravel every web of spider secrets in Trinidad and Tobago and has a secret to share with women who want to take their lives to the next level.

"Don't acknowledge things like sexism and glass ceilings, just do what you have to do the best of your ability and you will be acknowledged by the people that matter," she said.