Giant Amazon Spider Preys on Opossum | Nat Geo Wild

During a night survey in the Peruvian forest, scientists saw a spider catch this remarkable meal.

#NatGeoWILD #Spiders #Opossums

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This is the first video documentation of a large mygalomorph spider preying on an opossum. While surveying in northern Peru, a team of scientists from University of Michigan found a tarantula dragging a young opossum along the ground. The team was studying interactions between arthropods and small vertebrates in a lowland Amazon rainforest. The study found that arthropod predations accounted for a surprising amount of mortality amongst Amazonian vertebrates. Amazonian spiders tend to rely on modified jaws, massive fangs, and venom to capture vertebrates.

Read "First-ever video shows a tarantula eating an opossum"

Giant Amazon Spider Preys on Opossum | Nat Geo Wild

Nat Geo Wild

[skatakid]

I couldnt even imagine walking in the forest and just randomly seeing some HUGE spider pulling a possum. So intense.

[dirtysaint]

Dope. Crossing rainforest off my list of places to visit.

[sobre]

Keeping those things isolated in the Amazon should be one of the best reasons for humanity to preserve the rain forest

[bibipeach]

Imagine being thrown into the Amazonian jungle. Without a light or any protection

[juniebugjune]

It’s funny how it turned around and kinda went towards the scientists. It’s like the spider is saying, “Excuse me, can I help you? I’m kinda in the middle of having dinner.”

[imafuckingpossum]

*THAT WAS MY SON!! I WILL SEE YOU IN COURT*

[islamtoghuj]

To those who doubt:

"When we first encountered the pair, the opossum was still responsive and kicking weakly. We observed the interaction for approximately 5 minutes after which time the opossum ceased
all movement and the spider dragged it away around a tree root. This observation took place in the floodplain forest, approximately 2 km from the station. It is worth noting that this appears to be the first documentation of a large mygalomorph spider (infraorder Mygalomorphae) preying upon opossums (R. Voss, pers. comm.)."

Source: 'Ecological interactions between arthropods and small
vertebrates in a lowland Amazon rainforest'

Published: 28 February 2019

[DJ_Shenanigan]

They had to put a fade out because shortly afterwards they dropped the cameras and ran😂 some say they are still running

[Jeremy_]

C'mon. You have to hold it in your hand for a good size reference.

[SassePhoto]

Just look how easily it moved its prey wow

[honeyplug]

I'm in Arkansas, and here possums run about the size of a small cat... help me wtf am I seeing? Gatdamn xenomorph!

[AzlianaLyana]

Nope. Nope. Nope. That size? Even more nope. Oh nature, I love you and all.. but this though.. yeah. No. Cool shorts NG.

[talldarkstranger]

it's a lot smaller than the one that got Frodo...

[SkyKing]

so the stereotypes in movies about everything in amazon is bigger weren't lies

[CaptainRandom]

Well, that's enough internet for tonight. I live in a permanent nightmare now. Thanks a lot for this, Amazon rainforest!

[ninjamice]

That giant spider be enjoying itself some good ol' Possum stew.

[magnifecentswagg]

Ive never seen a spider that big good gracious

[bhien]

Legend says that the spider still dragging it prey...

[RamtejK]

That's straight out from Jurassic Period

[greenergrass]

I think that spider fought Godzilla on Monster Island. 😎👍