Unpacking after a holiday can already be a stressful enough experience but for an Edinburgh worker there was a greater shock when a species of the world’s largest spider was found hidden in their suitcase.
The unnamed resident returned from a work placement in Africa on Sunday when they discovered the huntsman species, which can grow up to 30 cm in leg span. However, this particular spider had a still-impressive 10 cm span.
The Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) was called, and the spider was captured and contained in a plastic box.
Animal rescue officer Catherine Atterton told Sky News: “The spider was very fast, and about 10 cm in size.
“Huntsman spiders are known for their speed and their ability to jump, so I was glad the member of the public had managed to contain the spider.”
She added that the spider will now be rehomed in Kent, where there is a specialist centre.
Ms Atterton added: “Thankfully, the spider was none the worse for wear after their long journey and was taken to one of our animal rescue and rehoming centres to quarantine.
“We know a lot of people find spiders frightening but, to the Scottish SPCA, they’re just another animal who needs our help.”
What is a huntsman spider?
The huntsman spider that was found in Edinburgh was of African origin but the type of creature can be spotted in Australia, America, and Asia.
They are particularly fast and can grow a leg span of 25-30 cm, making it the largest type of spider. They are named for their method of hunting, which can see them use venom to immobilise their prey.
Despite this, they are not deadly to humans. However, they can give you a nasty nip that can cause pain, nausea, headache, vomiting, and heart palpitations.
They are also called giant crab spiders owing to the fact their eight legs are not in a straight line attachment to their bodies and appear to curve around. In Africa, they are also known as lizard-eating spiders, for obvious reasons.
They also have eight eyes and can detect humans but cannot see as well as other types of spider.
