Huge Whip Spiders Wear Nail Polish for Science | Expedition Raw

"You can only describe the tropical whip spider as evolution’s perfect design for an arthropod killing machine," says Verner Bingman, a behavioral neuroscientist and National Geographic grantee.
While whip spiders are arachnids that fall under the arthropod phylum, they're not actually spiders. Whip spiders have eight legs, but the front two have evolved into antenniform legs that extend up to two feet long. These legs wiggle around like whips to gather sensory information, earning whip spiders their name. The arachnids also have appendages called pedipalps, which Bingman describes as being like "pliers with sharp teeth."

About Expedition Raw:
Surprises, challenges, and amazing behind-the-scenes moments captured by National Geographic explorers in the field.

Get More National Geographic:

About National Geographic:
National Geographic is the world's premium destination for science, exploration, and adventure. Through their world-class scientists, photographers, journalists, and filmmakers, Nat Geo gets you closer to the stories that matter and past the edge of what's possible.

Huge Whip Spiders Wear Nail Polish for Science | Expedition Raw

National Geographic

[leokrupp]

"Dude, I saw a bright light, then something lifted me into the air. Next thing I know I've this thing stuck to my head. I'm not saying it was aliens, but . . . . "

[rtswift]

i would so pissed of if i was just chilling and then some one caught me and then placed a stupid transmitter on my back.

[agnomendoppelganger]

So did it work? I mean were you able to track its home planet?

[lycheemyusic]

glad to see in the very first clip a whip spider next to an ant. just got done playing a bunch of empires of the undergrowth and wanted to see how big whip spiders really are lmao, nice to see a comparison.

[NatGeo]

VERNER BINGMAN—THE SCIENTIST IN THE VIDEO—WILL BE ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS LIVE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION TODAY (WEDNESDAY) FROM 4:30-5:30PM EST! POST YOUR QUESTIONS IN THE COMMENTS NOW, OR JOIN US IN REAL TIME THEN!

[_DaneB_]

These aren't spiders, they're tailless whip scorpions, and they're HARMLESS. You saw that these people had no trouble capturing them with their bare hands and holding them. They're very docile creatures and many people keep them as pets. Yall need to stop hatin on the bugs!

[catalot]

I grew up on a farm, and barns (except milking parlors where things are kept very clean) are usually full of big, fat spiders who make webs in corners, ceiling beams, etc. Big, fat spiders horrify me, but they are vital for keeping the flies down. I know of a farmer who once exterminated all the spiders in his barn, and he paid for it with a fly explosion. Big, fat, juicy spiders do serve the world by reducing the supply of flies and bugs. :)

[mikimulvehill]

Hi Vern It was awesome meeting you and Dan in Costa Rica and learning about the Whip Spider :) Love Miki

[sprucy]

Sorry, that was just me screaming hysterically.

[firecatflameking]

We can here see a nope in its natural habitat

[garinramadhan]

I lived here in Indonesia, we get to see spiders almost every day and sometimes it can be as huge as your palm, i've seen this species once and i'm just curious why most people hate spiders

[TheFurriestOne]

The stories these spiders could tell about alien abduction! XD

[Xelbooru]

how can you even grab those things I would faint if I even saw one in person!

[pistonpkm]

It may not be the cutest but it is certainly one of the few arachnid i wouldn't mind handling. At least it doesn't have poisonous fangs.

[the_hollow_goblin]

Could you try to put micro cameras on animals and see what they do instead of just using radio trackers? Well you could still use that with cameras that would be really cool to see

[MoroDanan]

Wow, he was a good size. Very reminiscent of the huntsman spiders from Australia.

[MuhammadEgypt]

Amazing, but I didn't like the part about the nail polish though. You could have used a natural substance, like a tree glue or something.

[quacknaround]

Living in the desert I've picked up all sorts of things that bite and sting and whatever and maybe these aren't the worst but they are very creepy. Very cool story though, maybe understanding their sense of direction and feeling could help those who can't see guide themselves with hairs. 👍

[j.benip.mireles]

Is it the spider that "Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody" brought to the class of Defence against dark in "Harry Potter: The Goblet of Fire" ??

[dieniewienie]

Gonna need a bigger boot for this one.