What This Guy Caught Lurking In His Backyard Looks Too Big To Be Real…But It Is

Australia is home to some unique animals, like koalas, platypuses, wombats, the dingo, and kangaroos! Those are just a few of the 378 different species of mammals you can find in Australia! They also have 300 species of lizards, 828 species of birds, 140 snake species, 4000 fish species, and 50 types of unique marine animals, according to www.australia.com.

Something you may not find advertised on a tourist website are the insects! Not many of us would flock to any country just to see spiders, wasps, or ants! But, Australia is home to a spider called the golden silk orb weaver spider, or banana spider. Golden silk orb spiders like to live in the forest or

woodlands.

Image Credit: Reddit / Devilheart

The name comes from, not the color of the spider, but from the color of their silk (which are yellow, but look golden in the sun). These are rather large spiders! The females can grow to be 3 inches (not including the legs), and the males are about one-quarter of an inch, according to insectidentification.org. These spiders build webs that can be up to 3 feet in diameter! Reddit user, Devilheart posted the pictures of his backyard visitor!

This is quite a large golden silk orb weaver! Luckily, the venom of golden orb weavers is not lethal to humans, but, according to Wikipedia, it does have a similar neurotoxic effect like that of a black widow – but it is not as powerful.

Image Credit: Reddit / Devilheart

These spiders do not have a harmful or beneficial relationship with humans – so, we leave them alone, they leave us alone! Sounds good to me! Yikes!

Image Credit: Reddit / Devilheart

Share away, people!

“I’m Not Leaving You, Mama!” This is What Love Looks Like.

UPDATE: Lizzie and Phantom are currently recovering in an outdoor koala ward within the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital . They’re doing swimmingly; Phantom is both gaining weight and exploring his temporary habitat. And of course, mama and baby are sharing more adorable cuddles! For most species in the animal kingdom, the bond between mother and baby is incredibly strong. That's pretty much inarguable. But last week, two koalas in Australia further proved it. After they were hit by a car, Lizzie and her joey, Phantom were welcomed into the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital. Six-month-old Phantom had escaped the accident unscathed. Lizzie, however, wasn’t looking so good, what with facial trauma and a collapsed lung. In order to survive, she needed to go under the surgeon’s knife. But this marsupial mama wasn’t alone during the life-saving procedure. Phantom accompanied her and clung to her as she received treatment. The vets let them be; Phantom was too y...

The Sound Of This Baby Rhino Wailing After Its Mother Was Killed By Poachers Will Haunt You

It’s one of the most sorrowful sounds you’ll ever hear, but it’s also a sad reality check for anyone who thinks protected species are safe from illegal poaching. In a video released this in July, a baby rhino named Davi cries for his mother after she was shot and killed by poachers. Most rhinos spend at least three years with their mothers before weaning, the Dodo reports, but Davi’s childhood was cut short at just 8 months old. The baby rhino stood close by his mother’s lifeless body until rescuers arrived. They fitted her with earplugs and a blindfold to calm his anxiety on the way to The Rhino Orphanage in South Africa. Source: YouTube/Terrence Daniels Davi huddles close to his mother’s dead body. It was there that Davi spent the night crying. “His calls for mom echoed deeply and urgently throughout the night, but two carers have been with him every step of the way,” caretakers posted . “At least he is in good physical condition [and] has no injuries...

Protect Our Waters: Say No To Plastic Waste!

Plastic garbage. It’s something we all see everyday. Don’t be fooled to think that these plastics are merely an eyesore. We’ve become so accustomed to using plastic utensils, straws, water bottles and bags that it’s easy to forget the impact this has on our environment and climate. My name is Tyler and I’m in my fourth year of university in Canada, where I’m earning a degree in Environmental Studies. I'm also an environmental activist. Even for someone like me, it’s hard to avoid using plastic at places like fast food restaurant, and that needs to change. I’ve started this movement to highlight calls to action happening around the world, and to grow a community of everyday citizens pressing governments and companies to get serious about cleaning up our rivers, lakes and oceans . When we work together, and keep the pressure on, we really can make an impact. I know this firsthand, after collaborating with activists across Canada to successfully urge th...

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