An exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime scene has been captured by a couple during their romantic getaway in Tasmania. Southern Tasmania resident Justine Latton and her husband captured the images of a large huntsman spider devouring pygmy possum and shared on a Facebook group dedicated for Tasmanian spiders and insects. Since then, the posted image of “possum-eating spider’ has been shared more than 7,000 times and has gone viral. While some Facebook users were frightened of the spider, others were overwhelmed by the wonder of nature.
Justine Latton said that the spider was about the size of an adult hand and the unlucky possum was just about the size of a large walnut. She also added that she had never seen a spider eating a mammal.
Facts About Australian Huntsman Spiders:
Huntsman Spiders, the long-legged arachnids, is a type of hairy so-called tarantulas that are usually found on house walls, terrifying people by scampering out from behind curtains. They are usually grey to brown in colour and live in narrow spaces under the rock crevices or loose bark. Some species of huntsman spiders inflict a painful bite, causing swelling, vomiting, dizziness, sweat, irregular pulse and persistent nausea. They usually feed on insects and small invertebrates but mammals are not in their diet.
That’s why Australia Museum Arachnology Collection Manager Graham Milledge said that it was the first time he has been seen a pygmy possum as a prey for a huntsman. Nature never stops to amaze us, does it?
Facts About Pigmy Possum:
Pygmy possums are so small that they are just about 5 to 12 cm in length and weighing between 10 and 50 grams. There are five species of Pygmy Possum, which are native to Australia. They are nocturnal, being active during the night, and feed on seeds, fruits and nectar.
Afraid of spiders? Don’t want the eight-legged visitors entering your home? Why not call Enviro Safe Pest Control at 1300 997 272 and schedule an appointment for spider pest control today?
