On Apr. 2, we reported the discovery of a presumptive new species of tarantula in Sri Lanka, set apart from its relatives by unique markings on its abdomen and legs. Called Poecilotheria rajaei, the spiders can span 8 inches across – which, according to our own careful measurements, means they're large enough to easily latch onto the average human face (or your cat's entire head, but too big to comfortably lurk in your shoe. You choose).
Now, there's a video of the arachnid superstar, shot by researcher and discoverer Ranil Nanayakkara. Watching this behemoth crawl around is a surprisingly tactile experience. Flashing bits of bright yellow, the spider grasps onto and climbs over a bit of bark, then creeps across a pile of leaves. And though the video is slightly out of focus, the spider's beautiful geometric patterns are clearly visible.
For those of you angling for a shot of the species-identifying pink band on its belly, we offer this:
Video: krissgail123/YouTube
