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[Wazzim]

The dollar bill looks so small in that picture.

 

[Gaborn]

The dollar bill looks so small in that picture.

I love Goliath Birdeater spiders.

 

[Leeroy3101]

Primitive relatives of other arachnid families may yet be discovered in the same regions, he noted, because many unique evolutionary descendants of other widespread groups live there, including coast redwoods, mountain beavers, coastal-tailed frogs, and some pseudoscorpions whose evolutionary ancestors date back 380 million years.

I find this even more interesting. I wonder what makes this area so unique?

 

[Fox Mulder]

Since spiders are arthropods, is it possible that spiders can evolve to be as big as the biggest crabs living today?

The structure of a spider won't really let them grow that big on land, and it really serves no benefit.

 

[Candeldandel]

Holy crap, that is so fucking cool!! That spider looks so badass

It's incredible that new species of animals can still be found so frequently in this day and age. And in Oregon! <3

 

[JdFoX187]

Why do I keep coming into these fucking threads? Why?!

 

[Gaborn]

I find this even more interesting. I wonder what makes this area so unique?

probably under developed and isolated. The fact that they were found in a cave probably helps it too. Also, the fact that most people don't necessarily think about looking for new species, they just see "Oh, look at the spider" without wondering what kind of spider it is.

 

[Bombadil]

The structure of a spider won't really let them grow that big on land, and it really serves no benefit.

I understand the first part but don't really agree with the second part. Who's to say what the benefits are. The needs of the spider can change drastically.

Think of it this way. Insects breed more rapidly in warmer climates. We are experiencing global warming. Global warming = more insects = more food for spiders = larger spiders.

Come on guys. Believe in something.

 

[Kabouter]

More info:

It's an apt name for a spider with unique hooks, or claws, on its legs, which the researchers believe are used to snatch flying insects, like midges, out of the air. With its legs outstretched, the spider measures up to 3 inches (8 centimeters) long.

"They're biggish," Griswold said. "But when you're in a cave and it's dark and there's only the beam of your head lamp, they look much bigger. It's quite astonishing to see them hanging from a few threads."

Griswold and his colleagues think that the newly discovered spiders hang from the underside of caves on simple webs, waiting to snatch a meal with their astonishing sicklelike legs. The few specimens Griswold and his graduate student Tracy Audisio have reared in the lab, though, haven't eaten anything. "It seems very shy," Griswold told OurAmazingPlanet.

The spider also has poisonous glands, although there's no evidence that it is dangerous to humans.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48703399/ns/technology_and_science-science/#.UC66jEStBr0

 

[Candeldandel]

Griswold said this discovery could help explain why there are legends about giant spiders living in caves in this region.

I gotta look up some of these stories!

 

[CF_Fighter]

First vegan spider!

It is Oregon. I'm sure whatever they eat they require to be locally produced and organic.

 

[Gaborn]

I gotta look up some of these stories!

Yeah I thought that was neat.

Also, I'd like to thank Kab for posting the story update for me while I couldn't access GAF yesterday with the DNS switch. Those claws are AMAZING and very much like the raptors we all know and love.

 

[Red UFO]

Since spiders are arthropods, is it possible that spiders can evolve to be as big as the biggest crabs living today?

No. Their current respiratory system couldn't handle something so large.

 

[Trey]

I have no issue with spiders. They always have the disposition that they're just hanging out and want no problems.

 

[TCKaos]

Looks like somebody has been dabbling in the warp again.

Time to purge the heresy.

 

[Boss Doggie]

Why is it so cute?

 

[neemmss]

Maybe it eats humans...scratch that don't think...

 

[Smellycat]

Not as tasty as crabs, but damn are they beautiful.

Are you sure? Part of it looks like a tasty hamburger.

 

[Violet_0]

Crabs stay on the ground and in water so they can grow to be much bigger. Spiders climb, weave webs , etc so they have a ceiling.

and then there's this

 

[Slayer-33]

and then there's this

Fuck that shit lol Jesus Christ

 

[Bombadil]

Just another angle.

 

[Banana Kid]

Don't we have enough of these fucking things already?

 

[Stencil]

Spiders are ok with me, mainly, but what freaks me out about these buggers is that we don't know how or what they eat.

 

[bcl0328]

Just another angle.

nopenopenopenope

 

[dojokun]

People need to stop going into caves.

 

[Starsunder]

Pretty sure it lives off fear and hate.

Nuke it from orbit.

 

[Kane Zakharov]

Nuke it from orbit.

Yes please.

 

[Slevin]

I love Goliath Birdeater spiders.

Do you have any Goliaths, Gaborn? I have two. Both are still pretty young though.

 

[DominoKid]

and then there's this

naw son fuck that.
i'd shit a brick even if it just grabbed at my foot.

 

[Alaskanbullworm]

Why do I always enter these threads, WHY?



But that is an awesome name

 

[Kettch]

I gotta look up some of these stories!

Yes, we really need to know about stories of giant spiders hanging from the underside of caves that snatch people up by their heads with their sicklelike legs...

 

[Takao]

Spiders are ok with me, mainly, but what freaks me out about these buggers is that we don't know how or what they eat.

omae wa mo shindeiru

 

[Bombadil]

Spiders are ok with me, mainly, but what freaks me out about these buggers is that we don't know how or what they eat.

Maybe these particular spiders were affected by their displacement from their natural habitat and lost their appetite.

It happens to higher order animals.

 

[BY2K]

Since spiders are arthropods, is it possible that spiders can evolve to be as big as the biggest crabs living today?

Is that grab doing a salute?

That or a facepalm (claw).

 

[Gaborn]

Do you have any Goliaths, Gaborn? I have two. Both are still pretty young though.

Nope I do not. I just think they're neat though.

 

[Candeldandel]

Yes, we really need to know about stories of giant spiders hanging from the underside of caves that snatch people up by their heads with their sicklelike legs...

I haven't been able to find anything online yet, but I'll keep looking... everything I type in so far pops up either a different iteration of the spider discovery, or a general "spider legends from around the world" collection, with no mention of the PNW in any of them.

PS: There is only so long you can be searching for spider related stuff on the internets before you get a little creeped out, even if you're OK with them /shiver

 

[cajunator]

Just another angle.

I like it. Its kind of cute.

 

[Captain Chaos]

Found this pretty little thing today when opening up the window