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beam me up scottie

(57,349 posts)
Thu Apr 6, 2017, 06:02 AM Apr 2017

Saucer-sized spider discovered in Baja cave

Saucer-sized spider discovered in Baja cave

In the hills of Baja, Michael Wall and Jim Berrian found a creature that’s the stuff of nightmare for most people — a cave spider nearly the size of a tarantula.

For the two San Diego Natural History Museum researchers, it was an exciting windfall — an unknown arachnid as wide across as a softball.

“This is the type of spider that a lot of people would shriek and run from — it’s big enough to fall in that category,” said Wall, curator of entomology for the museum.

The brand new species has the stuff of horror films: eight beady eyes, thick fang-like structures, a hairy, inch-long body and legs stretching four inches wide. Berrian, however, describes it in more flattering terms.

“I think it’s a really pretty spider,” he said. “The head and legs are kind of a chocolate brown. The abdomen is a dull yellow. And it’s kind of plain, but very striking.”

After confirming the spider as a new species, they named it Califorctenus cacachilensis after the Sierra Cacachilas mountain range where they found it, and published the discovery in the journal Zootaxa last month.

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/science/sd-me-cave-spider-20170403-story.html


Video at link.
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Saucer-sized spider discovered in Baja cave (Original Post) beam me up scottie Apr 2017 OP
What kind of kid aspires to be a spider hunter when he grows up? Judi Lynn Apr 2017 #1
I totally understand their excitement - I love spiders. beam me up scottie Apr 2017 #2

Judi Lynn

(160,211 posts)
1. What kind of kid aspires to be a spider hunter when he grows up?
Thu Apr 6, 2017, 10:58 PM
Apr 2017

[center] [/center]
How could you feel good finding a spider as large as a saucer?

It is good to know that someone who has even been bitten by one of these critters doesn't seem to be afraid of them. That part is pretty interesting!

Thanks for the information.

beam me up scottie

(57,349 posts)
2. I totally understand their excitement - I love spiders.
Fri Apr 7, 2017, 12:01 AM
Apr 2017

They're not cute and fluffy like other more popular predators but they are worthy of our respect. From ant mimics to diving spiders to peacock jumping spiders they're all pretty awesome.

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