Got Arachnophobia? Scientists Discover Face-Size, Poisonous Tarantula In Sri Lanka

[Initech]

A new type of tarantula about the size of your face has been found in northern Sri Lanka. Scientists found the spiders -- with a leg span up to 8 inches (20cm) across -- living in trees and the old doctor's quarters of a hospital in Mankulam.

Covered in beautiful, ornate markings, the spiders belong to the genus Poecilotheria, known as "Pokies" for short. These are the tiger spiders, an arboreal group indigenous to India and Sri Lanka that are known for being colourful, fast, and venomous. As a group, the spiders are related to a class of South American tarantula that includes the Goliath bird-eater, the world's largest.

The new spider, named Poecilotheria rajaei after a local police inspector who helped the team navigate post-civil war northern Sri Lanka, differs from similar species primarily in the markings on its legs and underside, which bears a pink abdominal band.

"This species has enough significant differences to separate it from the other species," said Peter Kirk, editor of the British Tarantula Society's journal, which published a study describing the spider in December. But, Kirk notes, taxonomic determinations based on physical descriptions can provoke disagreement. "I absolutely would love to see DNA sampling done - on all the species of Poecilotheria," he said.

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-04/3/giant-tarantula

Just the look of this thing is crap-your-pants terrifying.

[woodsprite]

1. I am an arachnophobe, but I agree that they are beautiful and fascinating.

The grey one is beautiful, but the blue tarantula (a pic linked from the article) is absolutely georgous! I can appreciate them in captivity (the kid's high school library has one as a pet - Rosie) and in the wild, but get any spider near me not in a controlled environment and I'm looking for the closest thing to squish it with. My husband's uncle said a tarantula had it's babies behind his living room TV once. He lives in Arizona, near the desert. He said he just relocated them outside. UGH!!!

Thankfully the biggest spiders I see are wolf spiders in our basement and around our house. That's more than enough for me. If they stay outside, they're safe. If they come in, they've bought the farm. If I don't get them, our cat or dog will.

[Curmudgeoness]

2. Thanks.

I was wondering what my nightmares would be for the next few months.

Problem solved.

[Stuart G]

3. Now ,,now..let us calm down...these things are in Sir Lanka...that is far far away.. but

I am getting out anyway...