Totally creepy enormous spider-like thing discovered in Laotian cave
One of the largest harvestmen ever found has been discovered in a Laotian cave.
"This harvestman has especially long legs – a span measuring more than 33 centimetres." © Senckenberg
I hate spiders. I hate things that look like spiders. And I especially hate spiders and spider-like things with spindly legs. Consequently, I was appalled to hear that a massive spider-like thing had been found in a Laotian cave.
The discovery was made by Dr. Peter Jäger from the Senckenberg Research Institute in Frankfurt who was in Laos to film a TV production. “In between takes I collected spiders from the caves in the southern province of Khammouan,” he says. Why? Why would anybody willingly enter a spider-infested cave? Anyway …
In one of the caves he apparently found a gigantic spider-like critter with a leg span of more than 33cm. That’s right, 33cm. Or a foot and a bit. Yuck, yuck, yuck.
The spider-thing isn’t, however, actually a spider: it’s a harvestman, also known as a daddy longlegs (not that that makes it any less creepy). It’s also one of the biggest ever found – the current record belongs to a 34cm specimen discovered in South America.
Why so big? Nobody knows, but Peter “Spiderman” Jäger speculates that it could be because the critters grow slower – and therefore bigger – in caves.
There is, however, some good news here. It seems that the daddies growth is limited – possibly due to a lack of oxygen – and so they can’t simply keep on growing and growing. That’s the theory, anyway – let’s hope it’s right.
This spider-thing is not the only gross critter to have been discovered in this region of Laos. They’ve also found huntsman spiders with 30cm leg spans, whip scorpions with 26cm spans and predatory centipedes with 40cm spans.
The moral of the story: never, ever, ever take a trip to Laos. And if you absolutely have to go there, keep away from the caves.
[Source: Senckenberg Research Institute]
**Shudder**
I agree with you “SHUDDER” I hate spiders
Can we order them over the Internet? I need one for my sister’s birthday, lol.
You, sir, are a jerk lol
Glad I’m not your sister….lol
I remember them as a kid in England floating around, but they were only a couple of inches long. They did no harm but sometimes didn’t move fast enough to stay away from your face. Not that I want to see the one above, but I don’t think I’ve seen a daddy longlegs for over 20 years. A hairy spider the size of the above would be extremely alarming!
As a young lad in the seventies a friend and I were terrified of two daddy long legs about a foot in height that we discovered in her back yard in Sudbury, Ontario Canada. I found this artical intersting yet I feel the large size of this specimen not to be uncommon.
I agree i HATE spiders or anything that looks like spiders and this thing is creepy.
when i was a child i ran into a spider web that had babys in it and they ended up all over me from that point i am terrified of them.
I had a similar experience as a small kid. If you have ever seen a wooly spider then you know they are just freaky as hell. When I was to young to know what a nest looked like I stuck my finger in it to see what it was and thousands of babies just came falling out all over my hand and it F*$(#ing scarred me for ever.
Who the hell chose this bimbo to write an article about a scientific discovery!? Oooo scawy spiders!!! Give me a break.
Wow Chris very grown up of you, thank you so much for your insightful comment! Couldn’t make it as a writer yourself? There are many options for help with your obvious anger issues, maybe you could use your time researching that instead of wasting it writing comments that make you look like an idiot!
Listen to the kettle calling the pot black
Wow Trev what a fascist muppet you are commenting on peoples comments. Yes I am commenting on yours just to point out how lame that is…..Vs
You’re exactly right, Chris. This wasn’t an article on a scientific discovery; at best it was an infantile, self-absorbed judgment. Even a child in Grade 3 knows that we keep our personal opinions out of our reports.
Chris, Steve – this is science and tech *blog* – not a journal, not a column, not a magazine. We strive to share our opinions here, just as we encourage our readers to (respectfully) share theirs. It’s an informal, fun and hopefully informative place to get your daily fix of science and tech content.
I found all spiders creeping and scary, however still can’t help but look. They are interesting, however I wouldnt want to encounter one of this size.
But to tell readers to never ever visit Laos was not a “respectful” statement.
I don’t think Rhonda meant that seriously. Her over-the-top comment was meant as humour. No one would genuinely suggest avoiding a whole country over a cave-dwelling insect.
Informal and fun doesn’t mean it has to be written like a teen’s diary. I think we all clearly understood right from the start that Mrs Callow is afraid of spiders, no need to repeat this fact over and over.
apparently no one told this kid.
really what a bimbo…. where did they get her grade school
I aggree with you. Rhonda is very juvenile about this. To sugest that nobody should go to Laos because there are spiders in caves is not at all what a journalist should write about. Generally this article looks like it was written by a 10 year old girl.
OMG, the woman was trying to be funny…. grow up!
anyone mind putting one of those 30cm things in Chris’ bed?
These predatory bugs are cool. They eat all kinds of even grosser little things that carry disease. Just leave them be, and they will help the world to be a healthier place.
You are totally right -
You’re right–but they’re still gross. I see them occasionally here in Toronto (small ones), and I treat them kindly–but I still don’t like them.
Yes, this is a cool discovery but it’s NOT a huge spider or spider like creature, it just has very long legs so please don’t over sensationalize it. It’s like saying I have a huge house, but it ends up being 900 sqft on 100 acre property….please.
I agree with Chris, poor writing introducing things like “creepy” or “yuck, yuck”, impress me with and stick to jazzing up the scientific stuff….you are not writing childrens novel.
This looks like a common spider, to me, i.e., a small bug with *very* long legs!
Slow news day!
This is what is all about.
Thank you for writing this article!!!! I’ll definitely add Laos among the list of places to avoid. …lol
I also have a phobia of spiders – and really enjoyed this article. I think it was very well written and humorous!! Those who don’t have this kind of phobia – don’t understand (re: some of the above nasty comments). Even a tiny spider seems HUGE to someone with this kind of phobia. I also learned something I didn’t know before – because I always thought daddy long-legs were spiders. But I guess they’re not because they “only” have five legs.
It is horrible to have a phobia of spiders – because one might encounter a spider anywhere. Some have a phobia of snakes – but it’s unlikely they’ll encounter one. Others have a phobia of heights – well it’s relatively easy to avoid as well. Fear of flying an airplane – they simply don’t. Many people have various kinds of phobias – but arachnophobia is especially an awful phobia to have to live with. Desensitization has helped many “reduce” or even in some cases overcome this kind of phobia.
Guys, you did not get her point of view.
She needs to call the attention of the readers in order to get her articles to be read by you.
She knows how mediocre she is and of course a little bit of sensationalism doesn’t hurt. Specially when you still get paid by writing crap. Like this article.
Right on.
I know the cuspis of the article is about spiders. However, I cannot believe that the moral of the story is to “Never, ever, ever take a trip to Laos”. Laos is a small likely unknown country to most which has a lot of natural beauty and some very nice people there. I think that comment was rather harsh and inappropriate. It’s like telling the world to never, ever, ever visit Ontario because there are crimes that occur. And if you absolutely must, then stay away from Toronto. I blame it on the editor really !
I know the cuspis of the article is about spiders. However, I cannot believe that the moral of the story is to “Never, ever, ever take a trip to Laos”. Laos is a small likely unknown country to most which has a lot of natural beauty and some very nice people there. I think that comment was rather harsh and inappropriate. It’s like telling the world to never, ever, ever visit Ontario because there are crimes that occur. And if you absolutely must, then stay away from Toronto.
Your comment about Toronto is dead on. I am Canadian…and will never visit there. What a pollution ridden waste of a city. Oh, and I also hate spiders. What a beautiful free world we live in where everyone is allowed their opinion. Too bad not everyone respects others opinions.
Daddy Longlegs with 15 cm spans are seen occasionally in my house. Most of them are a little shorter though. When I take my wood in the basement in the fall, I take in a lot of spiders and other bugs. I don’t see why people get into a big fuss over spiders(unless they’re poisonous). They are fascinating really.
WOW – I imagine you must have A LOT of spiders accumulating and reproducing in your basement. I try to avoid my basement “just in case” there “might” be a spider. Your basement is probably a nightmare – since spiders do like wood piles.
I wished I could find spiders “fascinating” like some people do – because it’s awful to be afraid of them.
That`s a spider!?!? Looks like lint. In Northern Canada we have a little critter called a dock spider, I`m sure they are all over North America. These things are HUGE, like Trantula huge with big hairy legs and bodies and when your on a dock and you look between the cracks there they are all big and black and hairy. My dog got a t bite on the nose and his little nose swelled up into a big nose. The bites are harmless but it`s a big frggin spider!!!
Sounds like a slightly larger variety of the country spiders we get out here that catch hummingbirds for breakfast. Seen 5 this season and NO I’m NOT going near any web that can hold birds. I blame the air here for the size, ocean spray makes for hungry spiders, etc. > more drive to eat > more food consumed > more growth.
For the record, i NEVER EVER want one of those in my basement. the normal Ontario 6 inch critters are bad enough (and dont get me started on Centipedes (i know Ontario centipedes dont bite) but still…
otherwise, cudo’s to the doctor for finding one and not being eaten by it.
sorry not inch, Centimeter.
True spiders have 8 legs.This one is missing a few appendages!
A rice krispie on legs!
I found this very interesting and brought me a smile and a fond memory.
I ran a YMCA summer day camp in Indiana which took us to many different nature parks. One time, a “ranger” guide from the park we were visiting, grabbed a daddy long leg off a tree (small – maybe 3″ total), and showed all of my interested campers. He said it was harmless to humans as all creatures have a purpose here on earth. So some let it crawl along their arms as it tickled them a little. Then he told the curions campers that they are edible and popped it in his mouth!
We sure got a lot of YUKK!! And a lot of laughs, too. Thanks for reminding me of a funny, good memory. I did ask that none of my camper eat them, because lunch was next!!!
I believe or so I’ve been told that the average farm or grassland area has approximately 300 different species of spiders.And yes they eat a tremendous amount of little (correction)tiny insects.I,as a rule don’t bother them in the house,unless they get to big,then out they go!
@William: All spiders are poisonous… Most are simply either too puny to bite through your skin, or else the bite will be about as annoying as any ‘ol misquito bite.
However, all spiders’ bites contain a neuro-toxin amongst other funky enzimes, since spiders have no digestive system. Their venom paralizes and eventually liquifies the organs of their prey so they can sit back and drink up a freshly mixed meal!
They’re really like freaky little ninja-vampires!
Luckily, the worst ones to try and play with are either in South America or Australia.
Mind you, I recall one of my friends who served in Afganistan telling me about the camel spiders there, which could grow to be the size of a dinner plate!
Oh, and they ugle as feth to boot, so our guys didn’t mind shooting the buggers when they’d surprise them!
spiders are not poisonous….they are venomous!