Image: Scientist Stumbles Upon A Puppy-Sized Spider
Whiile Piotr Naskrecki was strolling through a rainforest in Guyana, he heard a rustling sound. “When I turned on the light, I couldn’t quite understand what I was seeing,” Naskrecki, an entomologist and photographer at Harvard University’s Museum of Comparative Zoology, said.
What he saw was an enormous, puppy-sized spider, according to Live Science.
Live Science reports:
When Naskrecki approached the imposing creature in the rainforest, it would rub its hind legs against its abdomen. At first, the scientist thought the behavior was “cute,” he said, but then he realized the spider was sending out a cloud of hairs with microscopic barbs on them. When these hairs get in the eyes or other mucous membranes, they are “extremely painful and itchy,” and can stay there for days, he said. [Creepy-Crawly Gallery: See Spooky Photos of Spiders]
But its prickly hairs aren’t the birdeater’s only line of defense; it also sports a pair of 2-inch-long (5 centimeters) fangs. Although the spider’s bite is venomous, it’s not deadly to humans. But it would still be extremely painful, “like driving a nail through your hand,” Naskrecki said.
And the eight-legged beast has a third defense mechanism up its hairy sleeve. The hairs on the front of the spider’s body have tiny hooks and barbs that make a hissing sound when they rub against each other, “sort of like pulling Velcro apart,” Naskrecki said.
Sleep well everyone. I swear, theres are no spiders under your bed. Honest. Trust me, I’m a blogger.
H/T: @ComgenKDT with thanks.
Copyright 2014 Liberaland
By: Anomaly100
KB723 October 19th, 2014 at 20:43
Careful what you wish for Anomaly100…… ;)
Anomaly 100 October 19th, 2014 at 21:15
I’d never, ever wish for one of those. I’m not fond of spiders.
KB723 October 19th, 2014 at 23:08
Sorry to get back so late I was ranting in a new post, I think I feel better now, oh and I don’t care much for spiders either, but I do have a fondness for black emperor scorpions…. Anyways, please let me know what you make of this post, seems I needed to get a few things off my chest… http://www.byebyedemocracy.org/2014/10/find-out-what-happened-to-serena-press.html
Anomaly 100 October 20th, 2014 at 06:35
I didn’t even know about that. Wow!
KB723 October 20th, 2014 at 09:20
Yeah, it’s sadly Amazing the news our corporate media keeps us from…
KB723 October 19th, 2014 at 20:43
Careful what you wish for Anomaly100…… ;)
Anomaly 100 October 19th, 2014 at 21:15
I’d never, ever wish for one of those. I’m not fond of spiders.
KB723 October 19th, 2014 at 23:08
Sorry to get back so late I was ranting in a new post, I think I feel better now, oh and I don’t care much for spiders either, but I do have a fondness for black emperor scorpions…. Anyways, please let me know what you make of this post, seems I needed to get a few things off my chest… http://www.byebyedemocracy.org/2014/10/find-out-what-happened-to-serena-press.html
Anomaly 100 October 20th, 2014 at 06:35
I didn’t even know about that. Wow!
KB723 October 20th, 2014 at 09:20
Yeah, it’s sadly Amazing the news our corporate media keeps us from…
William October 19th, 2014 at 21:01
Um…yeah
William October 19th, 2014 at 21:01
Kill it with fire.
tracey marie October 19th, 2014 at 21:49
That is absolutely beautiful and terrifying at the same time. I have read and watched docs about them, very fasinating.
tracey marie October 19th, 2014 at 21:49
That is absolutely beautiful and terrifying at the same time. I have read and watched docs about them, very fasinating.
tiredoftea October 19th, 2014 at 22:50
I think the extreme fringe right wing has found its 2016 Presidential candidate. Damn, it’s a foreigner!
Jack E Raynbeau October 19th, 2014 at 23:42
They do thrive on fear.
tiredoftea October 19th, 2014 at 23:46
Oh, yes.
tiredoftea October 19th, 2014 at 22:50
I think the extreme fringe right wing has found its 2016 Presidential candidate. Damn, it’s a foreigner!
Jack E Raynbeau October 19th, 2014 at 23:42
They do thrive on fear.
tiredoftea October 19th, 2014 at 23:46
Oh, yes.
Scopedog October 19th, 2014 at 23:23
The Giant Spider Invasion….
Scopedog October 19th, 2014 at 23:23
The Giant Spider Invasion….
Bunya October 19th, 2014 at 23:37
As long as this spider stays in South America, I’m a happy camper.
Bunya October 19th, 2014 at 23:37
As long as this spider stays in South America, I’m a happy camper.
Jack E Raynbeau October 19th, 2014 at 23:40
OK, I’ll tell you anything you want to know. Just put that motherfucker back in the box.
Jack E Raynbeau October 19th, 2014 at 23:40
OK, I’ll tell you anything you want to know. Just put that motherfucker back in the box.
Spirit of America October 20th, 2014 at 05:58
Would make for an interesting burglary deterrent…
Sign reads w/picture:
“My pets have free roam of this house…”
raincheck October 20th, 2014 at 06:48
Especially if it were a “barking spider”
Spirit of America October 20th, 2014 at 12:36
lol, yea, or on the back of a snow-white shepard…
Gindy51 October 20th, 2014 at 07:29
We had a pet Chilean pink tarantula and she was definitely a deterrent. When we had repair guys over, they’d make me lock her in the bathroom or they would not do any work. Big 200 pound guys scared of a 3 ounce spider in a locked glass cage. HA!
Spirit of America October 20th, 2014 at 05:58
Would make for an interesting burglary deterrent…
Sign reads w/picture:
“My pets have free roam of this house…”
raincheck October 20th, 2014 at 06:48
Especially if it were a “barking spider”
Spirit of America October 20th, 2014 at 12:36
lol, yea, or on the back of a snow-white shepard…
raincheck October 20th, 2014 at 06:56
Ever been camping and “thought” you felt a spider crawl across you?
John_St_John October 20th, 2014 at 14:02
Beats waking up to a snake sharing your sleeping bag with you.
raincheck October 20th, 2014 at 06:56
Ever been camping and “thought” you felt a spider crawl across you?
John_St_John October 20th, 2014 at 14:02
Beats waking up to a snake sharing your sleeping bag with you.
rg9rts October 20th, 2014 at 07:11
And things that go bump in the night
rg9rts October 20th, 2014 at 07:11
And things that go bump in the night