Adorable nature pictures!!

[SkinBasket]

http://tools.cairns.com.au/images/gallery/2008/10/23/117811.jpg

http://tools.cairns.com.au/images/gallery/2008/10/23/117821.jpg

http://tools.cairns.com.au/images/gallery/2008/10/23/117801.jpg

[Little Whiskey]

what the hell is it? a spider eating a bird?

[SkinBasket]

Yes.

[Jimx29]

Giant spider snapped eating bird in backyard near Cairns

THIS amazing image of a mammoth spider devouring a bird was taken in the backyard of a property near Cairns.

The image, which is being cirulated via email worldwide, is real, according to wildlife experts, The Cairns Post reported.

The photo, believed to have been taken earlier this week, shows the spider clenching its legs around a lifeless bird trapped in a web at a property near Atherton, west of Cairns.

Joel Shakespeare, the head spider keeper at NSW's Australian Reptile Park, has told ninemsn the spider was a golden orb weaver.

"Normally they prey on large insects, it's unusual to see one eating a bird," he said.

Mr Shakepeare said he had seen golden orb weaver spiders as big as a human hand but the northern species in tropical areas were known to grow larger.

Mr Shakespeare told ninemsn the bird, a chestnut-breasted mannikin which appears frozen in an angel-like pose in the pictures, is likely to have flown into the web and got caught.

"It wouldn't eat the whole bird," he said.

See more pictures at The Cairns Post.
Share this article

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24540399-5009760,00.html

[Cheesehead Craig]

That is one impressive spider. Damn.

[mraynrand]

Mr Shakepeare said he had seen golden orb weaver spiders as big as a hand

http://nwbirding.com/Trips/costa%20rica03%20pic/golden%20orb%20weaver.jpg

[mraynrand]

How about a Sphex wasp that preys on katydids. They will fly in the air and grab them right out of the sky, pump a bunch of paralytic poison into them through a needle that for humans would be the size of a beer bottle, and then they lay an egg on them, keeping them alive to feed their young.

http://www.cirrusimage.com/Hymenoptera/Sphex_katydid_thumb.jpg

[Tyrone Bigguns]

How about a liberal that will quickly enact legislation to drain a conservatives wealth and live on it for years!

[hoosier]

Giant spider snapped eating bird in backyard near Cairns

THIS amazing image of a mammoth spider devouring a bird was taken in the backyard of a property near Cairns.

The image, which is being cirulated via email worldwide, is real, according to wildlife experts, The Cairns Post reported.

The photo, believed to have been taken earlier this week, shows the spider clenching its legs around a lifeless bird trapped in a web at a property near Atherton, west of Cairns.

Joel Shakespeare, the head spider keeper at NSW's Australian Reptile Park, has told ninemsn the spider was a golden orb weaver.

"Normally they prey on large insects, it's unusual to see one eating a bird," he said.

Mr Shakepeare said he had seen golden orb weaver spiders as big as a human hand but the northern species in tropical areas were known to grow larger.

Mr Shakespeare told ninemsn the bird, a chestnut-breasted mannikin which appears frozen in an angel-like pose in the pictures, is likely to have flown into the web and got caught.

"It wouldn't eat the whole bird," he said.

See more pictures at The Cairns Post.
Share this article

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24540399-5009760,00.html

Well then no dessert for that spider!

[MJZiggy]

Giant spider snapped eating bird in backyard near Cairns

THIS amazing image of a mammoth spider devouring a bird was taken in the backyard of a property near Cairns.

The image, which is being cirulated via email worldwide, is real, according to wildlife experts, The Cairns Post reported.

The photo, believed to have been taken earlier this week, shows the spider clenching its legs around a lifeless bird trapped in a web at a property near Atherton, west of Cairns.

Joel Shakespeare, the head spider keeper at NSW's Australian Reptile Park, has told ninemsn the spider was a golden orb weaver.

"Normally they prey on large insects, it's unusual to see one eating a bird," he said.

Mr Shakepeare said he had seen golden orb weaver spiders as big as a human hand but the northern species in tropical areas were known to grow larger.

Mr Shakespeare told ninemsn the bird, a chestnut-breasted mannikin which appears frozen in an angel-like pose in the pictures, is likely to have flown into the web and got caught.

"It wouldn't eat the whole bird," he said.

See more pictures at The Cairns Post.
Share this article

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24540399-5009760,00.html

I. AM. NEVER. MOVING. THERE...

Florida was bad enough with fire ants and Palmetto bugs...

[mraynrand]

How about a liberal that will quickly enact legislation to drain a conservatives wealth and live on it for years!

http://msnbcmedia3.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/040628/040628_leeches_hmed.hmedium.jpg
Leech Facts


1. There are 650 known species of leeches.
2. The largest leech discovered measured 18 inches.
3. About one fifth of leech species live in the sea, where they feed on fish.
4. The leech has 32 brains.
5. The Hirudo leech lays its babies within a cocoon; whereas the Amazon leech carries its babies on its stomach - sometimes as many as 300.
6. Not all leeches are bloodsuckers. Many are predators which eat earthworms, etc.
7. The Amazon leech uses a different method of sucking blood. It inserts a long proboscis into the victim, as opposed to biting.
8. The bite of a leech is painless, due to its own anaesthetic.
9. The Hirudo leech injects an anti-coagulant serum into the victim to prevent the blood clotting.
10. The leech will gorge itself until it has had its fill and then just fall off.
11. The leech will gorge itself up to five times its body weight.
12. The first leech was used in medicine about 1000 B.C., probably in ancient India.
13. In the past, people would stand in the lakes and pools dotted around the country and when the leeches attached to their legs they would put them in baskets and sell them. Today the Hirudo leech is an endangered species.
14. The original surgeons were barbers and they used leeches to cure anything from headaches to gout!
15. The nervous system of the leech is very similar to the human nervous system and is an enormous benefit to researchers in their quest for the answers to human problems.
16. The nearest relatives of leeches are earthworms.
17. Leeches can bite through a hippo's hide!

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Looks like current medical treatment, thank god obama will change that.

[mraynrand]

Looks like current medical treatment, thank god obama will change that.


Yes he will. It will be available and completely free.

[SkinBasket]

Looks like current medical treatment, thank god obama will change that.


Yes he will. It will be available and completely free.

One short flight to Taiwan away.

[SkinBasket]

Anyway, back on topic. Can you imagine that spider crawling on your balls, fangs raised?

[mraynrand]

Anyway, back on topic. Can you imagine that spider crawling on your balls, fangs raised?

Not before you wrote that. Now, I suppose I can. Thanks, asswipe.

[Scott Campbell]

Anyway, back on topic. Can you imagine that spider crawling on your balls, fangs raised?



I think you've just found the perfect concept for your next av.

[SkinBasket]

Anyway, back on topic. Can you imagine that spider crawling on your balls, fangs raised?

Not before you wrote that. Now, I suppose I can. Thanks, asswipe.

I bet it would actually feel kind of good until it started injected liquefying toxin into your nuts.

[Freak Out]

Anyway, back on topic. Can you imagine that spider crawling on your balls, fangs raised?

Not before you wrote that. Now, I suppose I can. Thanks, asswipe.

I bet it would actually feel kind of good until it started injected liquefying toxin into your nuts.

I double dog dare you to try that stunt. I'm sure it won't sting the human nutsack......why would it?