[richlevy]

Originally Posted by Dypok

Goliath Bird Eating Spider, I think the largest species of spider in the world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_eating_spider

Edit: Oh Jesus, don't stray far from that page. The pics are shivers on a stick.

Thanks for the link. I learned some interesting stuff.

Cause and effect, anyone?

Males die soon after maturity and have a lifespan of 3 to 6 years.

Male birdeaters are one of the few tarantula species to lack tibial spurs, located on the first pair of legs of most adult male tarantula species. These spurs are used by other tarantulas to keep the fangs of the female immobilized during mating so the female doesn't eat the male.