An Arachnid Too Big To Face
Thursday, April 4th, 2013April 4
A previously unknown tarantula has been found, scientists announced in the British Tarantula Society Journal. The tarantula, a native of Sri Lanka, has a leg span of around 8 inches (20 centimeters), about the size of a human face.
The new species has been named Poecilotheria rajaei for the Sri Lankan police officer, Michael Rajakumar Purajah, who aided the scientific team in their search for this arachnid. Poecilotheria rajaei has yellow leg markings, a pink band on its body, and a nasty bite. The tarantula is highly venomous and is said by scientists to be very fast on its feet.
These arboreal spider prefers to live in old, established trees. Deforestation, however, has led the spider to begin living in abandoned buildings. They are also known in recent times to invade homes during monsoon season.
This new Sri Lankan spider, big as it is, is not the world’s largest spider. That honor still belongs to the South American Goliath birdeater. This enormous tarantula can have a leg span of more than 10 inches (25 centimeters).
Additional World Book articles: