We're Doomed: Scientists Discover a Venomous Tarantula the Size of a Human Face

It's been a rough day for arachnophobes -- news traveled from Sri Lanka this morning that scientists have identified a spider the size of a human face. Introducing the Poecilotheria rajaei. See also: - Scientists Discover Genitalia-Headed Fish - Scientists Discover Jumping Cockroach - We're Doomed: Scientists Discover Spiders with...

By Claire Lawton

April 4, 2013

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It's been a rough day for arachnophobes -- news traveled from Sri Lanka this morning that scientists have identified a spider the size of a human face.

Introducing the Poecilotheria rajaei.

The tarantula has a leg span of 8 inches and, according to the Sri Lankan scientists who've studied it, has enough venom to kill snakes, small birds, lizards, and mice.

Ranil Nanayakkara, co-founder of Sri Lanka's Biodiversity Education and Research writes that the spider was "slightly smaller than the size of the plate we have dinner on."

The colorful spiders are tree dwellers and are mainly found in India and Sri Lanka. But because of deforestation, writes Nanayakkara, the spider has been forced out of its natural habitat.

Sweet dreams.

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Claire Lawton

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