:quality(80)/cdn-kiosk-api.telegraaf.nl/720aeea0-31b2-11eb-bbec-02d2fb1aa1d7.jpg?fit=%2C&ssl=1 "Terrifying: spider in living room grows into monster | Remarkable")
Jake Gray saw a hunting crab spider at his home in Cairns, in far north Australia, a year ago and decided not to kill it. An act of mercy that now gave the man a small heart attack: twelve months later the spider appears to have grown considerably.
Gray shared the photo on an animal identification platform. “Look at this big girl,” he added. “I’ve seen her grow up this year.”
The terrifying photo elicits many reactions on Facebook. “Dude, your house is now owned by that spider,” it sounds. Or, “Make sure he pays his share of the rent and cooperates in the household.”
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Ⓒ Jake Gray / Facebook, via Het Nieuwsblad
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Australia has more than 155 different species of hunting crab spiders. They often live under the loose bark of trees, in crevices in rock walls, or under foliage, and can grow up to 6 inches (15 centimeters). They use poison to immobilize their prey, and there have been cases of people being bitten by a cornered hunting crab spider.
Fright
Gray’s story also prompted other Australian Facebook users to share their own spider story. “I was driving to school a few years ago when my son asked his little brother in the back seat ‘what that was, behind his head’. When I saw that thing, I quickly stopped and we got out screaming. ”
Countless Australians are frightened by the hunting crab spiders every year. Hilarious videos roam the internet. The animals have also been spotted in the Netherlands.
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