Nov 14, 2009

Science Scene - The Spider Awards :o)


I know that there is a myth out there that claims that you swallow about eight spiders in your lifetime while you sleep.  I am glad that it is not true, because could you imagine chocking one of these babies down?

Largest Spider:  The award for the most astronomically sized arachnid goes to the Goliath Bird-eating Tarantula (Theraphosa blondi), who lives in the rain forests of northern South America and grows up to a whopping 12 inches across, including legs. Females can live up to 25 years and can weigh nearly a half a pound.

Although this giant is called the Bird-eater, named by Victorian explorers who witnessed the spider devouring a hummingbird, the tarantula doesn’t have particular preference for birds. Like other spiders, the Goliath’s favorite foods are small insects such as crickets and beetles. However, he’s also an opportunistic eater: When faced with a delectable reptile, bird or small mammal, what’s a hungry spider to do? Apparently, the Goliath will gobble up just about anything that’s smaller than itself.

For more Spider Trivia, head on over to Wired Science

5 comments:

  1. Hi Ken,
    Thanks for debunking the "we-all-eat-spiders-in-our-sleep" myth. I've heard it, of course, and tried not to think of it at bedtime.
    Best,
    Marty

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm going to start taping my mouth shut at bedtime just in case! LOL

    ReplyDelete
  3. Aw...he looks like a furry little arachnid. I actually have spider on my totem. Wouldn't relish swallowing them though. Seems like it would be a whole lot of bad mojo.(Hugs)Indigo

    ReplyDelete
  4. Is that your spider? Spiders are kind of creepy.

    ReplyDelete
  5. As much as I love spiders and respect their place in this world, they need to hope Stan is around or stay of sight, if they want to survive encounters with me.

    ReplyDelete

Tell Me What You Think, Don't Make me go Rogue on you :o)