It was almost midnight in the Peruvian Amazon when scientists from the University of Michigan heard a scratching noise in the leaves and saw a dinner plate-sized tarantula dragging a opossum along the forest floor.
The spider had grabbed the opossum -- a small furry creature known as a mouse opossum -- by the neck and it was still twitching when the scientists found the pair. They watched for about five minutes and were able to document the moment on video, before the spider hauled its prey behind a tree root to enjoy its meal in peace.The 2016 encounter was detailed in an article published in February 28 issue of the peer-reviewed journal Amphibian & Reptile Conservation.
Beelaughdotcom Please tell me the U. of Michigan scientists were not IN Michigan at the time.
My GOD, this can't be! This will change the face of science as we know it!
I find it really fascinating that the further away a predator gets from humans evolutionarily relative to the prey, the more offensive humans find it. Like a spider eating a mouse is way worse than a lion eating a zebra.
All I can see ... it’s spider dragging dead opossum... it’s just ready meal 🥘
This is nightmare level scary. The thought of dinner plate sized tarantulas makes me ill.
Hell no 😫
Wow. This is the stuff of nightmares. It's also very worrisome.
I used to have arachnophobia when I was young & had gotten over it, even to the point of photographing them & haveing them walk on my hands! But, I just regressed back to 8 years old! Yikes! Was that a small, side plate or large, serving plate sized tarantula? U of M have pics?🕷
That does it. I’m buying a flamethrower.
S,
Noooooooooo
Why are there tarantulas here?
THANKS I HATE KNOWING THIS
Pure Michigan...
Thanks for my week of nightmares
Yep, it's all happenin'. The beginning of the end. They're coming for us next. Spiders and cockroaches will survive. At least then we won't have a criminal for president. 😱
Yet another reason why I'm just fine with a temperate climate. Bring on the cold! 😱
Maybe the lede should have mentioned that this was in Peru and not Ann Arbor
So,now Acromantulas are real? jk_rowling I think Aragog's kids got loose.
This actually does not surprise me. Bigger Spider Bigger Prey. :)Jumping spiders are also a 'Hunting' Spider. But I find cute Teddy Bear Jumping spiders far more fascinating than scary tarantulas...Lol. ; )Always thought about keeping a pet Jumper. They got good self realization.
It was almost midnight when I read this and now I’ll probably never sleep soundly again. Thanks gang! 😉
large bees and now dinner plate sized spiders... ummm, gonna get my can of raid and sit in a corner.. in fear
Tarantulas in Michitigan Awwe hell Naw! Gotta get up outta here! A Mouse Opossum that must be like what we call a shrew? But Awwe hell naw! Spiders. GETTIN THE F* OUT!
Sick
It's halloween?
Do you repost everything twice?
welp they're coming for us