Tiger Spider: New species of Tarantula the size of your face found in Sri Lanka!

[The Count of Merkur Cristo]

Yeech!! The Mrs. and I are 'scared to death and creeps / freaks-us-out' about all manner of spiders (and this one is really big too).

By Nadia Drake - April 2, 2013

Tiger Spider, New Species Of Tarantula The Size Of A Face Found In Sri Lanka

"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 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 colorful, 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 (hence the Tiger name), 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".

Read More: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/04/new-giant-tarantula/

Read More: http://msnvideo.msn.com/?channelind...l#/video/5a07999f-9a0c-c2e6-211d-40497b1770ce

"Will you walk into my parlor"? said the spider to the fly. "Tis the prettiest little parlor that ever you did spy". Mary Howitt

 

[rxonmymind]

Vez should be along in no time to chime in. He'll have one by next week.
Cool looking spider though.

 

[Hangglidernerd]

It's a beautiful pokie but I'll stick to my new world T's.

 

[YetiDave]

I've wanted to get a pokie for a while, maybe if it ends up being bred as part of the pet trade Speaking of tarantulas the size of your face...

 

[MSstrahan]

Wonder what it tastes like? Chicken?

 

[The Count of Merkur Cristo]

I've wanted to get a pokie for a while, maybe if it ends up being bred as part of the pet trade Speaking of tarantulas the size of your face...

Dave:
...now that's a 'really, really' big spider. I can't see myself holding one, let alone allowing the spider to crawl up my arm.

"[Goliath (bird-eater), tarantulas are] so large...they appear to be wearing the pelts of small animals". Dave Barry

 

[oldbluelight]

Thanks all the same. But if it ain't got four legs and a tail to wag I don't want to pet it.

 

[Craig9802]

Yikes. I let a tarantula walk across my hand at the Butterfly Pavillion here just to try to get my daughters to do it. Somehow it didn't seem to help them get over their "bug phobia".

For any other arachnids around here we have a rule - stay out of sight and you can stay alive. I'm afraid I'd have to get a shovel for that one. Wow.

 

[KodiakAttack]

I've wanted to get a pokie for a while, maybe if it ends up being bred as part of the pet trade Speaking of tarantulas the size of your face...

I may be alone on this one... But I don't think they make shoes big enough to squash one of those.

 

[Seraphim]

 

[gwgrooms]

Wonder what it tastes like? Chicken?

More importantly, does it have bristles that can be made into a good shaving brush?

 

[the_edski]

11 posts and no KJ yet? Obviously his spidey sense is off today....

 

[Hangglidernerd]

That's a beautiful salmon pink.Mine is still growing but her temperament changes with each moult so she doesn't come out to play much.I will never will understand the fear of spiders.I love them.A small dog has the potential to cause far more harm to us two leggers than any tarantula.

 

[Slash McCoy]

Yaaaaaaahhhhh!!!!!! Get it off me!!!!!

 

[malocchio]

nice clip !

 

[Kevan]

I hate spiders. Detest them. Despise them. If they stayed outdoors that's fine, but no....they come indoors and hide and build webs for no reason (because what the heck are they going to catch in a small dark corner of a house that they can't catch outside? Idiots.)

A spider bit me once when I wore a wool sweater that was stashed away in a drawer. It had apparently been caught in the sweater or living in the drawer. Needless to say, its death was brutal.

 

[OldSchoolYoungin]

Pokies are easily my favorite genus alongside Avics. Prior experience is essential before keeping this genus, though; they're big, fast, agile and pretty venomous for a tarantula. A buddy of mine had a P. rufilata female that was nearly 10" in legspan before she passed. They're BIG spiders.

Oh, and they don't run...they teleport. Any Pokie keeper knows what I mean...

Yeti Dave, if you're interested in Pokies, good luck. P. regalis is a decent beginner's Pokie, but have you had experience with any other fast arboreals? Tapinauchenius, Psalmopoeus, more skittish Avics, etc? Keep in mind that a bite from many Pokies can have you visiting your local ER.

 

[oakeshott]

Pokies are easily my favorite genus alongside Avics. Prior experience is essential before keeping this genus, though; they're big, fast, agile and pretty venomous for a tarantula. A buddy of mine had a P. rufilata female that was nearly 10" in legspan before she passed. They're BIG spiders.

Oh, and they don't run...they teleport. Any Pokie keeper knows what I mean...

Yeti Dave, if you're interested in Pokies, good luck. P. regalis is a decent beginner's Pokie, but have you had experience with any other fast arboreals? Tapinauchenius, Psalmopoeus, more skittish Avics, etc? Keep in mind that a bite from many Pokies can have you visiting your local ER.

I once married a woman who was " big, fast, agile and pretty venomous" . Why would one expect things to go better with a similarly configured spider than they did with her?

Must never open this thread again and see a doctor ASAP to have the Willies removed surgically.

 

[OldSchoolYoungin]

I once married a woman who was " big, fast, agile and pretty venomous" . Why would one expect things to go better with a similarly configured spider than they did with her?

For the same very reason you did, Mark. Because they look good

 

[oakeshott]

For the same very reason you did, Mark. Because they look good

I stand here chagrined and totally schooled.

In all seriousness, I'm an animal guy. Difficult horses, shy or aggressive dogs, hard to catch chickens and snakes that need to be removed from the house have been my responsibility since I was a child. Spiders, though, unman me. I've reached an accord with them that both sides mostly honor, but if another never crossed my way again the loss would go unnoticed by me. And now I have the image of one as large as my face skittering about my imagination.

Thanks guys. Thanks.