Are Australian spiders really that big?

[Bob_Dobb]

Worry about the king browns...

 

[Insanity72]

Ok so i'm pretty sure i can safely say that Australia is seen as a country that has some pretty damn big spiders.

But if i'm walking around my house and see a spider the size of my palm, i don't consider that a big spider. But to the non Aussies here, If you saw a spider the size of your palm, would you consider it big or not? what do you consider to be a large spider?

I heard about something called a drop bear. Is that a real thing, or something that's made up?

Hahaha, no there is no such thing as drop bears

Just something made up to scare visitors

 

[kurtzy23]

Just dont go into the outback or into a forest and you will be fine.
Although I've found Redback's in my Shoes before. Not big ones but still scared the heck out of me.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Ok so i'm pretty sure i can safely say that Australia is seen as a country that has some pretty damn big spiders.

But if i'm walking around my house and see a spider the size of my palm, i don't consider that a big spider. But to the non Aussies here, If you saw a spider the size of your palm, would you consider it big or not? what do you consider to be a large spider?

I heard about something called a drop bear. Is that a real thing, or something that's made up?

Hahaha, no there is no such thing as drop bears

Just something made up to scare visitors

Apparently it was to scare kids away from being underneath trees, in case branches fell on them.

Also, allegedly US soldiers in Australia were told to put Vegemite on the helmets to protect themselves, and could be tracked via the Vegemite during training exercises...

 

[bl4ckh4wk64]

Me before reading through this thread: I already know I'm not going to Australia just because of those demon spiders

Me after reading through this thread: Australia must be destroyed! Sink it into the ocean and let the sharks kill those eight legged bastards!

Damn it! If only the Escapist would let us have signatures, this would just be perfect.

OT: In California, the largest I've seen is a Tarantula that was maybe 2 inches in length. 3 tops. The deadliest was a black widow. You're telling me that Australia has deadly spiders (known fact) that can grow to be the size of your palm? Seriously. Fuck. That.

 

[Goldeneye1989]

Wait wait, why are you worried about spiders......

Enjoy.
http://www.cracked.com/funny-163-australia/

http://www.cracked.com/funny-5997-the-animals-that-make-australia-deathtrap-it-is/

http://www.abc.net.au/science/slab/shorter/story.htm

Here is a good video, you know how are beaches are awesome

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK_Cl_54Qh8

Have fun sleeping when you learn..... that they can travel the ocean.... all the way back up TO EXACTLY WHERE YOU LIVE.

Sleep tight.

 

[Thaluikhain]

I wouldn't wish an Irukandji sting upon my worst enemy. All you have to do is look at the list of symptoms to see how bad it is. Severe headache, backache, muscle pains, chest and abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, sweating, anxiety, hypertension, tachycardia, pulmonary edema and the impending feeling of doom.

That last one is not a joke by the way, that is really one of the symptoms.

Apparently, that's not an uncommon symptom of dangerous conditions. It might not be the effect of the venom as such, but the body's response to something mucking about with important things.

EDIT: Says I, who is not a Doctor of anything.

 

[The_R3d_Fury]

Its not the size, its the poison.

 

[Vhite]

the coconut crab, is actually a spider:

this is a medium sized one, btw, they can get bigger.

I heard about it under different name. I think it was mudcrab(morrowind).

 

[NrthBlood]

On the cost they get big, but in the country the get FUCKING MASSIVE, that goes with the snakes as well. My general rule of thumb is if its 2 sizes smaller than my size 13 steel cap boot i want fucking going anywhere near them , plus they are deadly poisons, one bite from a baby red back could kill u.

 

[GoddyofAus]

^^ Taken from a Friends Facebook wall, and yes, I'm an Aussie. Down here, the Spiders are the least of your worries.

 

[KnightRider0717]

im so glad the biggest i find here (newfoundland) is about thumb sized