Interesting Animals

[Black Orchid]

Australia has a notorious reputation as home to some of the world's deadliest creatures and until recently also harboured the oldest known living spider in the world.

The trapdoor matriarch died at the ripe old age of 43 during a long-term population study in Western Australia's Central Wheatbelt and far outlived her previous rival, a 28-year-old Mexican tarantula.

Curtin University's Leanda Mason said the arachnid's significant life had allowed scientists to further investigate the behaviour and population dynamics of trapdoor spiders.

"Through Barbara's detailed research, we were able to determine that the extensive life span of the trapdoor spider is due to their life-history traits, including how they live in uncleared, native bushland, their sedentary nature and low metabolisms," Ms Mason said.

https://www.9news.com.au/national/2018/ ... -australia

I have never really thought about the lifespan of a spider before but wow. 43 years?

The Trapdoor is almost as nasty looking as the funnel web.

[mellie]

Gross, they can live that long.

[BigP]

Gross, they can live that long.

It would live for about 30 seconds If I came across the fucker

[mellie]

Bloody horrible spiders in this country, especially Sydney. Lol

[Black Orchid]

Anyone know how to transplant a video from Facebook? Usually I put key words into YouTube and find what I want but sometimes that just doesn't work.