Giant Spiders - Real or Science Fiction?

GraemeSkinner · 2004-04-21 06:15:08

Received a link today, regarding giant spiders found in Iraq [http://www.abc.net.au/sydney/stories/s1090143.htm]Article Link

They look more like something from science fiction or maybe one of Shelob's offspring from Lord of the Rings. You'd have thought if they were real we'd have heard about them by now. I know that new species are still being discovered today perhaps not at the same rate as they once were but surely something of this size would have been noticed by now. Just imagine if something like this had been discovered on Mars - would you still want to go?

Graeme

Palomar · 2004-04-21 06:40:39

Received a link today, regarding giant spiders found in Iraq [http://www.abc.net.au/sydney/stories/s1090143.htm]Article Link
They look more like something from science fiction or maybe one of Shelob's offspring from Lord of the Rings. You'd have thought if they were real we'd have heard about them by now. I know that new species are still being discovered today perhaps not at the same rate as they once were but surely something of this size would have been noticed by now. Just imagine if something like this had been discovered on Mars - would you still want to go?
Graeme

*Oh god. ::shivers:: Um...well, I guess if something like this were on Mars I'd still go, since they're already -here-.

Amazing critters, huh? The only spider I ever liked was Charlotte.

I wonder if this species of spider spins webs?

If one of those crawled on me (or even "just" a tarantula for that matter), I can imagine how high and loud I could scream. :-\

--Cindy

TJohn · 2004-04-21 07:02:29

I saw those pictures of the camel spiders. I read on snopes.com that it was a hoax. They don't get that big.

GraemeSkinner · 2004-04-21 07:08:57

The person that sent me the link originally suggested it could be the camera angle that made them look so big, the largest recorded spider I know of had a leg span of 25cm. Thats big enough to make me want to run away from it.

Graeme

GraemeSkinner · 2004-04-21 07:13:29

Found [http://www.gophergas.com/funstuff/camelspider.htm]this link which explains it a bit better than the original article I saw - what a relief the spiders are only as big as a hand!

Graeme

bolbuyk · 2004-04-21 17:36:58

Still big enough, to me.

Mundaka · 2004-04-22 02:18:49

Palomar · 2004-04-22 06:08:14

Yikes! The Camel spider: one of the most dreaded vermin of that part of the world. I don't think they are true spiders, but look a lot like them, and the part about the novicaine venom and nocturnal chewing is true, warnings about them are part of military training in that region.

*Wow. And to think I was very skeptical about that portion of the story. ::shudders::

I know an archeologist who was looking for ruins in Saudi, he told me one night one of his team's local guides had about a quarter of his face chewed off -- nose, lips, cheek and chin -- down to the bone.

*Thanks for the warning. If I'm ever in the region, I'm sleeping in body armour from head to toe.

*Cindy -- If those groati things are on Mars, I'm taking a pair of Paul Bunyon sized boots! SQUISH!

*Walk softly and carry a big BIG can of "Black Flag."

--Cindy

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#1 2004-04-21 06:15:08

Re: Giant Spiders - Real or Science Fiction?

#2 2004-04-21 06:40:39

Re: Giant Spiders - Real or Science Fiction?

#3 2004-04-21 07:02:29

Re: Giant Spiders - Real or Science Fiction?

#4 2004-04-21 07:08:57

Re: Giant Spiders - Real or Science Fiction?

#5 2004-04-21 07:13:29

Re: Giant Spiders - Real or Science Fiction?

#6 2004-04-21 17:36:58

Re: Giant Spiders - Real or Science Fiction?

#7 2004-04-22 02:18:49

Re: Giant Spiders - Real or Science Fiction?

#8 2004-04-22 06:08:14

Re: Giant Spiders - Real or Science Fiction?

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