Support NeoGAF

[XiaNaphryz]

http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Softball-sized-spider-discovered-in-California-11056149.php

While traipsing through the a mine in the hills of Baja California, Michael Wall and Jim Berrian struck gold. Skittering across the abandoned mine shaft was a beast that would send most people running.

The entomologists instead ran toward the creature – a whopping spider the size of a baseball – and captured it for analysis. With juicy fangs, a hairy yellow abdomen and legs for miles, the arachnid was certainly a looker, but neither of the scientists could classify it.

Back in their lab at the San Diego Natural History Museum, the researchers had a eureka moment. Upon corroborating with Mexican entomologist and southern spider expert Maria Jimenez, the scientists confirmed that they had discovered a new species and genus. They named it Califorctenus cacahilensis, after the Sierra Cacahilas mountain ranges where it was first found.

"Discovering a species in entomology and arachnology is not terribly unusual," said Berrian, who published the findings in Zootaxa last month. "There might be another 2-2.5 million species of undiscovered insects and spiders."

Finding such a large spider in a place once roamed by humans, however, is a scientific triumph of sorts.

"It probably shows that there aren't enough entomologists and arachnologists looking for this stuff," Berrian mused.

Berrian, who has been working with spiders for over 20 years, admits that the cave spider is the first arachnid to ever bite him. He recovered quickly – "It felt like getting poked by a cactus spine."

 

[HStallion]

Cue scaredy pants reactions to a spider

 

[ItIsOkBro]

It's cute

 

[Stinkles]

Oh good a giant hairy aggressive spider that bites literally every entomologist it ever encountered.

I don't like the fat hairy legs because I suspect the insides of those legs are juicy.

 

[CSJ]

 

[RepairmanJack]

It's like every day the world finds a new way to say "fuck you".

 

[chefbags]

Fuck no.

 

[.JayZii]

Somehow I read the title as "basketball" at first. Sounds like a mean little guy.

 

[Banjo-Kazooie]

They should have torched the mine shaft.

 

[JBourne]

Now that it's discovered, let's find a way to kill all of them.

 

[HellforLeather]

So Mexico has their own version of the Huntsman now?

 

[DJ_Lae]

Nope. Nope. Nope.

I like some spiders (jumping and some tarantulas) but that combination of hair and legs creeps me the fuck out. Let alone the little tufts of darker hair on those hideously long legs.

 

[Seductivpancakes]

Guys don't hate on Toxi.

 

[AlStrong]

It's cute

Heh, yeah. I was about to say it isn't as horrifying on sight as certain other species.

 

[HomerSimpson-Man]

LMAO. Brilliant.

 

[Stasis]

That's a great looking spider.

Must be awesome to discover something like that.

 

[jay]

Awesome

 

[ReAxion]

hm. neat.

 

[PillarEN]

I'll take snowy cold areas over ugly spider and snake friendly areas every day of the week.

 

[Rad-]

Motherfucker has a hairy nutsack growing out of its mouth.

 

[inner-G]

Kawaii

Spoiler

Kowai

 

[Bronetta]

You feel that tingly feeling on your back? That might up a spider crawling on your back.

 

[jorgeton]

He's.. kinda cute?

 

[pigeon interrupted]

Cute and hairy. That's how i like them. Good picture set, op. Too many spider threads without pictures recently

Ooh, it has a kiwi fruit for an ass

 

[Litan]

.

 

[-MB-]

Dunno why the guy spoke so casually about beign bitten by it. It is a new species, if it were deadly he would not have an antidote to combat the toxins.

 

[UpDownLeftRight]

Could have used something to help reference that size in the images.

 

[Regiruler]

*activates Toxi signal*

 

[Astral/H3X]

Finally, a spider that won't need a macro lens to shoot.

Should be easier to photograph than this guy:

20160512-20160512-DSC03458.jpg by Hunter Mauro, on Flickr

 

[ElBoxyBrown]

Someone take that last image and give it kawaii eyes and a blush.

 

[Grizzlyjin]

Is it weird that I'm less afraid when they're this obnoxiously big? I can dodge that. I get freaked out when they're smaller and could be anywhere.

 

[Winters_Solace]

Started of as nope but every closer shot it became cuter and cuter until the totally kawaii last.

 

[Iksenpets]

What a good good boy

 

[ExigentContact]

That's a cutie.

 

[Spenny]

What a cutie!

 

[TheBryanJZX90]

I always get confused when something like a spider has it's size compared to something perfectly spherical like a baseball or basketball. Is the spider's thorax and head the size of a baseball? Cuz that is HUGE. Or with legs? When the legs are stretched all the way out? Or folded a little? That's smaller, but how much smaller? Like, the shapes are too dissimilar it doesn't work.

 

[Apathy]

So California is trying to take over Florida's title as the Australia of the USA?

The face looks like a classic spider bro but the legs say "come give me a death hug"


Edit: whoops, sorry my brain skipped "Baja" sorry USA.

 

[il Diavolo]

Pretty sexy as far as spiders go

 

[itwasTuesday]

"With juicy fangs, a hairy yellow abdomen and legs for miles, the arachnid was certainly a looker,"

Oh

 

[caliph95]

Is it weird that I'm less afraid when they're this obnoxiously big? I can dodge that. I get freaked out when they're smaller and could be anywhere.

I'm the opposite, i can squish small ones

 

[mollipen]

It's so cute!

 

[Sephzilla]

LOL

 

[Stabby McSter]

spiders are so cute and creepy at the same time

 

[pigeon interrupted]

 

[Creaking]

Oh good, it bites people.

 

[cdyhybrid]

::::3

Is the scientist going to develop superpowers now?

 

[Kurdel]

fucking perfect lol

 

[SgtCobra]

Bretty gud.

 

[Manu]

Perfect.

 

[Lucky Seven]

I can't believe I share this forum with so many spiders. What else would find it cute other than another spider.