UK Edition
This massive huntsman spider in Australia is what nightmares are made of
A photo of an enormous Hunstman spider spotted in Queensland, Australia, is terrifying social media users.
Barnyard Betty's Rescue, an animal rescue and sanctuary located in the Brisbane Valley, shared the photos of arachnid Charlotte on its Facebook page.
Initially posted last year, Barnyard Betty's staff admitted they were left stunned when the photos of Charlotte began being shared by thousands around the globe this week.
Live Science notes that the average huntsman spider species is about one-inch-long, with a leg span of up to five inches, while a giant huntsman spider has an average leg span of up to 12 inches.
Online commentators have also argued that a ‘forced perspective’ camera trick makes the spider look much bigger than it really is, while many more have described the arachnid as a ‘beautiful creature’.
Graham Milledge, Collection Manager at the Australian Museum, said: “The spider in the photo appears to be a Giant Green Huntsman Spider, Typostola barbata. This is one of the larger species of Huntsman Spider found in Australia, with a leg span of over 20cm, and is mainly found in eastern Queensland.
He added, ‘the largest Huntsman Spider known is the Giant Huntsman, Heteropoda maxima, with a leg span of 30cm. It is found in Laos.”
“I'm not sure why now but she is going absolutely viral and become an internet sensation!” Barnyard Betty's wrote in a Facebook post.
“She is a Huntsman Spider and we are located in Queensland, Australia, and yes she is very real and very large and not photoshopped!
“She was a beautiful, calm spider, not aggressive in any way and like most spiders she just wanted to go about her business eating bugs and living in peace. She didn't or doesn't need to be killed! Poor spiders are so misunderstood!
“All creatures great and small are welcome here at Barnyard Betty's Rescue a safe haven no matter how you look!!”
The sanctuary added they released Charlotte on the farm shortly after rescuing her, adding: “Can you believe someone wanted to kill this amazing creature?”
Hundreds of Facebook users have commented on the photos, with Marissa Cutts posting: “I'm weeping this is so scary.”
“Kill it with fire then nuke it from orbit,” another joked.
“This is actually what my nightmares are made of,” said one user.
Barnyard Betty's said they hope the viral photos help raise awareness about their animal rescue efforts and are currently raising funds through GoFundMe to help keep the struggling farm open after a long drought.
Earlier this year, a massive monitor lizard captured ‘knocking’ at a front door stunned this Thai man.
Another gigantic Huntsman spider spotted lurking behind a door also freaked people out.
Meanwhile, this 11ft-long alligator was pulled from drain in Florida after complaints about a ‘bad smell’.