As if there aren't enough spiders already...

[Locutus]

Meet The Trogloraptor

An extraordinary new family of spiders from caves in*the Pacific Northwest (Araneae, Trogloraptoridae,*new family) - Pensoft

Scouring the caves of Southwest Oregon, scientists have made the incredible discovery of a fearsome apex predator with massive, sickle claws. No, it's not the Velociraptor from Jurassic Park: it's a large spider that is so unique scientists were forced to create a new taxonomic family for it.

"This is something completely new," lead author of a paper on the species, Charles Griswold with the California Academy of Sciences, told SFGate. "It's a historic event."

The discoverers, who published their description paper in the open-access journal Zoo Keys have named the species Trogloraptor, which translates loosely to "cave robber," and they have dubbed a new spider family—Trogloraptoridae—to accommodate what they believe is a primitive spider. The full species name is Trogloraptor marchingtoni after one of its discoverers.

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Velociraptor spider discovered in Oregon cave (pictures)

 

[Ron in Regina]

The top pic looks like something under an electron microscope, and the
bottom one sort'a looks like the Camel Spider pic's the circulate the
Interwebs and Emails every so often.

Using the scale in the pic at the bottom of the O.P....that spider is what?
including the legs, about and inch by an inch & a half or so?

 

[Locutus]

The top pic looks like something under an electron microscope, and the
bottom one sort'a looks like the Camel Spider pic's the circulate the
Interwebs and Emails every so often.

Using the scale in the pic at the bottom of the O.P....that spider is what?
including the legs, about and inch by an inch & a half or so?

140 feet wide man. Avoid caves. Stay indoors when you can. Guns don't work.

Ok then...the size of a half-dollar, but still. Good god.

 

[Ron in Regina]

I think I'll stick with a rolled up section of the newspaper.

 

[CDNBear]

Size 15 Nike's work well too.

 

[SLM]

Size 15 Nike's work well too.

Smaller sizes work well too, you just need to shriek in a really high pitched voice while you're delivering the death blow. Lol.

 

[CDNBear]

Smaller sizes work well too, you just need to shriek in a really high pitched voice while you're delivering the death blow. Lol.

I can do that. I have done that.

I'll catch Massassauga rattlers to show the boys, grab bats by the scruff of the neck, rassle coons, possums, and squirrels for sh!ts and giggles.

See a spider and my panties get all wadded up.

BTW; You'd be surprised as to how cathartic it is when you see the result of a size 15 smack down on a critter a minute fraction of it's size and weight.

The splatter is quiet impressive too.

 

[The Old Medic]

There are LOTS of unique species in caves. Unique blind fish, bats, insects, etc. That's just one of the many neat things about caving!

 

[SLM]

I can do that. I have done that.

I'll catch Massassauga rattlers to show the boys, grab bats by the scruff of the neck, rassle coons, possums, and squirrels for sh!ts and giggles.

See a spider and my panties get all wadded up.

My son is like that, while not a big outdoors snake catching type, nothing really phases him....unless it has either 6 or 8 legs and is in the house, then he freaks out, lol. I have, by necessity, become the bug killer in the family.

BTW; You'd be surprised as to how cathartic it is when you see the result of a size 15 smack down on a critter a minute fraction of it's size and weight.

The splatter is quiet impressive too.

Oh, I wield a mean shoe and can swing a rolled up newspaper or magazine like nobodies business. lol.