From spiders with unique hunting methods, to ones that are just weird to look at.
Join me as we explore some of the strangest spiders in the world today.
14.
The Disco Spider No, this is not a spider that listens to disco
or plays disco, or even glows like a disco ball (the cool modern ones I mean).
Rather, the Disco Spider has a unique function that does emulate the pulsating style of a
disco ball.
Mainly, The orb-weaver’s abdomen exhibits a pulsating movement that appear to show its
internal organs working under a translucent membrane.
This gives this unique spider a really weird function that is thought to either attract
mates, or scare off predators.
But it's so bizarre that most scientists don't truly know why it has that, or why it evolved
to be that way.
13.
The Flic-Flac Spider Based on the name of this creature, you might
not know exactly what it can do.
Which might be the point, because the Flic-Fac Spider can do something that most animals
can't...it can do a cartwheel.
No, really, it can.
It'll do this when threatened by predators.
In fact, it'll go so fast in its tumbling motion that it can actually go twice the speed
of a human walking at 6.6 feet per second.
So impressive was this that the person who found the spider actually made a robot to
emulate its moves.
12.
Trapdoor Spiders When it comes to spiders, many use very basic
means of capturing prey via luring them into their webs.
In fact, if I was to ask you how spiders hunt, that's how you would describe it, right?
However, when it comes to the Trapdoor Spiders, they get a bit more cunning in their approach.
And it's strange how detailed they get into said approach.
They'll actually dig into the ground they're on, and then cover that hole with all the
natural tools at their disposal to cover it up and make it blend into the environment.
The cover is so convincing that most animals, and even people, don't notice it because it's
a literal perfect camouflage.
Which is impressive when you think about it.
Outside of the trap door, the spiders do use their silk, but they use it as tripwires to
send a signal.
If a prey hits it, the spider will open the trapdoor, and then very quickly grab the prey
and bring it down with them to eat.
Now, obviously, there is a chance that the spider grabs something it can't eat.
If that happens, it'll release it back just as quickly as it takes it.
As you can see, this is a very advanced technique of hunting prey, and you have to wonder where
they got this idea from in the first place.
Clearly it's an evolutionary trait, but where did it come from I wonder?
11.
Brazilian Wandering Spider This terrifying spider is known to have a
very powerful and very active venom.
Some even call this the most venomous spider in the world (there are levels of this for
the record), and they're active hunters, which means they get around a lot.
Which is actually one of the stranger things about them when you think about it.
Because this particular spider likes to go and do things at night.
It's not unnatural for spiders to be nocturnal per se, but they do it in a very different
way.
They'll actually openly go and hide themselves in the daytime.
Even going so far as to hide in logs or termite mounds.
Then when they're in darkness, they'll just go and wander around on the ground of the
area they're in.
That's how they got their name by the way.
These are also a breed of spiders that are known to be rather aggressive and aren't afraid
to attack humans.
It's said that their venom could fell a human if it was to get a good bite in.
And because they usually would strike at night, it wouldn't be hard for them to sneak in and
strike before a human would notice they were there.
10.
Cobalt blue tarantula When you hear the name Cobalt blue tarantula,
you're likely one to picture a rather dangerous spider that isn't something you'd like in
your home.
But quite ironically, the Cobalt blue tarantula is indeed a breed of spider that is sold as
a pet.
Quite frequently sold as a pet might I add.
Oh, but it gets weirder, because your fears about it being dangerous are completely well-founded.
They honestly do have a venom in them, and that venom is so strong that it can be used
to cause all sorts of painful muscle cramps as well as inflammation of various body parts.
Not something you'd want to happen to you I'm sure you'll say.
And yet, it's a pet!
But, credit to those who run the pet trade, they're careful and make sure that the tanks
that hold these spiders are constructed well and that the spiders can be fed without fear
of getting too close to them.
Also, in case the name didn't give them away, the Cobalt blue tarantula is a very odd shade
of blue and gray mixed together.
Ensuring that they stand out from other spiders in the crowd so to speak.
Likely a reason why they're popular pets.
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9.
Diving Bell Spider I want you to picture a spider in its natural
habitat.
You picturing it?
Now, where is it?
Regardless of the forest-like or woods-like habitat, I would bet you that you're picturing
the spider above ground.
Meaning, it's on land.
But in the case of the Diving Bell Spider, this is a species of arachnid that lives almost
its whole life...underwater.
No, for real.
In fact, the Diving Bell Spider is the ONLY spider known to do this.
Keyword here is "known spider" as it's possible that there are more out there.
But for now, the Diving Bell Spider is what we got, and they truly do spend most of their
lifetime underwater doing various activities including resting, catching and eating prey,
mating, egg laying, and overwintering.
Now, despite it being an "underwater spider", it does breath air.
It uses silk constructs to get air bubbles and keep them near its head so that it can
breathe.
Hence the name "diving bell", because in the old days divers would use bell-like contraptions
to keep air around them while they went underwater.
The Diving Bell Spider has mostly been found in parts of Europe and Asia.
8.
Jotus remus Ok, this one just reeks of being strange just
because of a certain practice that it does.
The Jotus remus is a version of the Australian Jumping Spider and was found back in 2016.
And almost immediately, scientists found out that when it wants to find a mate, it does
something we humans are very familiar with...it plays peekaboo.
No, I mean it.
It does this via a paddle-like structure on its body.
" In a bizarre ritual, an amorous male hides on the underside of a leaf and thrusts the
paddle high enough for a female on the other side of the leaf to see it."
Think about it like this, how did this spider know that doing such a thing would ensure
a mate would come to them?
How did they come up with such an elaborate "game" that would lead to reproduction?
These are the questions ladies and gentlemen that keep many people up at night I assure
you.
But for now, all we can do is watch this and go..."that's weird".
7.
Ornamental Baboon Tarantula Many spiders are known for their odd colorings
and their sizes.
In West Africa, a very rare and special kind of spider exists in the form of the Ornamental
Baboon Tarantula.
They're usually found in Togo or Ghana, and when they're fully grown, they can reach over
5 inches in length.
These spiders are characterized by their chalky white coloration with mottled black and brown
markings.
Notably, these tarantulas have very thick rear legs, leading many to believe that they
are baboon spiders, when in fact they aren't related to them at all.
Which makes it all the more weird that they look so alike even though they're not related.
Their looks aside, the Ornamental Baboon Tarantula are known to be quite threatening when provoked,
even having a venom of their own that they can use against foes.
They're also not opposed to digging underground for cover in the early parts of their life.
6.
Ladybird Mimic Spider In nature, camouflage is a very effective
way of staying alive as well as luring foes into a false sense of security.
For the Ladybird Mimic Spider, they go into an interesting part of that caste of creatures.
Because they not only have the body colors of a ladybird beetle (aka ladybugs), they'll
also compress their bodies at times to ensure that from above (via birds) that they know
that it's "ladybugs" that they are eyeing.
Why would that be important though?
Birds eat spiders at times, and so to defend themselves they go and mimic something that
they know birds won't eat (ladybugs can be poisonous to birds).
It's really clever, and it shows just how smart animals can be when they're allowed
to evolve into their full potential.
You'll usually find these creatures in eastern Asia, such as in China, Japan, and Taiwan.
And they're very effective at using their body to both stay alive, and get food.
5.
Flower Crab Spider Continuing on with spiders that know how to
blend in with their environments, I give you the Flower Crab Spider.
This is another very special species, because these spiders (which are numerous in the world)
will go and rest upon arrays of flowers, and to make sure that no one spots them, they'll
actively change colors!
Yeah, they will, they're capable of changing their colors on a dime should the situation
be necessary.
And when you're hunting for food?
It's always necessary.
There are over 40 different species of Flower Crab Spiders in the world today, so when you
go and observe that flower patch, especially Goldenrods, be sure to be on the lookout for
spiders so you're not surprised when one creeps up towards you.
Wouldn't want that, right?
4.
Ogre-Faced Spiders I probably shouldn't have to describe this
kind of spider to you all, but given that you might get the wrong idea, it's probably
for the best.
Ogre-Faced Spiders are one of the more odd and unique spiders in the world today.
They're part of the "net-catching" spider breed where they'll actually make a net from
their threads and silk, hold it in the air, and then catch prey when they're in range.
A unique method of hunting compared to other spiders.
Furthermore, their appearance, including their face, is very different from other spiders.
At times, it looks like they have six legs instead of eight.
And their faces are said to look like an ogre, due in part to their eyes.
Which by the way can process more light than owls and cats.
At present, there are 51 species of Ogre-Faced Spiders in the world today.
3.
Wrap Around Spider Want to see another example of a spider blending
into nature in a weird way?
Meet the Wrap Around Spider.
This is a spider that uses its rather thick body and will press it against a tree trunk
or branch, which when mixed with its natural brown coloring will ensure that it goes virtually
undetected by foes as well as prey.
Just as interesting though is that when nighttime hits, the Wrap Around Spider will actually
go and rest in nets that it wove itself.
Not exactly what you would expect from a dedicated spider like this huh"?
2.
Bird Dropping Spider In nature, sometimes the best creatures that
are hunters are the ones that are best able to blend in with their environment in such
a way that no one would question what they are, and aren't.
But for the entity known as the Bird Dropping Spider...well...let's just say that their
approach is a bit...crappy.
This species is actually a form of Crab Spider.
But don't get the name mixed up, they're not dropping birds with their strikes, they're
actually mimicking the look and movements of actual bird droppings.
Oh yes.
Scottish Naturalist Henry Ogg Forbes was the first to discover this...unique spider, so
good that it can even fool humans!
This spider literally goes to all extremes to try and convince people and animals that
it's a bird dropping.
It can even "drip" to make it seem like the excrement is slipping off the leaf or stone
or other place it's on.
AND, it can even emit an odor that reminds you of bird droppings.
This is a spider with dedication to its craft.
1.
The "Albino" Spider This particular creature is a bit deceptive
in its naming.
Mainly because despite being called the Albino Spider, only one part of the spider is actually
white.
But that's actually what makes it so weird.
This specific trapdoor spider was found in Australia back in the early 2010's, and most
people were shocked to see it because only its flat head was white.
The rest of its body was actually brown and black.
"I nearly fell over when I saw its white head," Mark Harvey, senior curator at the Western
Australian Museum, said via email.
Now, it's not uncommon for certain "Albino" creatures to exist, some of them are even
very prominent in various parts of the world.
And yet, when it's them that's Albino, their entire bodies are white.
Yet this one only has its head being white.
That's just plain weird.
And because it's so new, and was only found somewhat recently, many people aren't really
sure where this spider came from, where it all lives, and why it has that weird white
head.
Just goes to show that nature still has a way of mystifying us.
Thanks for watching everyone!
What did you think of these unique spiders?
Which one do you think was the most strange of the set?
Do you know of another spider that could easily be on this list?
Let us know in the comments below.
Be sure to subscribe, and I'll see you next time on the channel!