Farewell, No. 16: scientists left 'miserable' after world's oldest spider dies aged 43

The telegraph ^ | 27 April 2018 | Henry Bodkin

[DUMBGRUNT]

And don’t forget the old lady, that swallowed the spider to catch the fly!

No real need to mention the famous itsy bitsy spider...but I recall, he had a long lifespan?

The previously noted Miss Muffet...

[Ancient Man]

This is what passes for headline news in Australia. There’s bound to be something they offer the world besides old trapdoor spiders, saltwater crocodiles, kangaroos, Dingos, Koalas, Wombats, Platypuses, boomerangs, indigenous alcoholism and Paul Hogan “Crocodile Dundee” reruns. I just haven’t discovered what it is yet.

[Yardstick]

Hey, I know what an M88 is!

Big beastly machine that pulls tanks.

[DUMBGRUNT]

I once saw a demonstration where ONE M88 pulling East, drug Two M60’s (48’s???) attempting to pull West.

Pulled the Two of them backwards!

[from occupied ga]

You left hysterical gun control off your list of what Australia offers

[fso301]

I don’t know what’s weirder - that someone would be counting the days a spider lives or that they would feel “miserable” once it dies

The scientist's misery most likely stems from grant money ending due to unique markings on the subject spider preventing the scientist from catching a nearby spider and relocating it to the deceased spider's burrow.

[Yardstick]

Yep, good old M88. A good design.

[xp38]

Elle MacPherson

[SgtHooper]

Wow. Nice M88’s!

[bluejean]

“The arachnid is believed to have survived for so long by sticking to one protected burrow its entire life and expending the minimum of energy.”

Sounds like Hillary.

[Hot Tabasco]

The world’s oldest known spider has died at the age of 43,

And nobody had the courage to just step on it? It wouldn't have lived long in my house......

[Hot Tabasco]

finding what they believe to be dead spiders in their swimming pools, which can then rear up and attack when removed.

Well that's certainly good to know......

[savedbygrace]

That’s 7 in people years.

[HBAR223]

Thailand?

[dfwgator]

My favorite scene from “Ruthless People”...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDh5iox-ltk

[A_perfect_lady]

The arachnid is believed to have survived for so long by sticking to one protected burrow its entire life and expending the minimum of energy.

It worked at the DMV?

[twyn1]

finding what they believe to be dead spiders in their swimming pools, which can then rear up and attack when removed.

I had that happen once when I was skimming our pool -- I think it was a wolf spider -- Not only did it "come back to life", it had about 200 little baby spiders on it's back that started scattering all over the deck -- it was like a horror movie!

Ah well -- RIP #16