Is this the scariest spider ever to exist or what??

Question

I snapped a photo of this massive spider while I was exploring the mayan ruins of Yaxchilan on the border of Mexico and Guatemala. Zooming in on the mouth it looks almost like a man-eating crab! With its legs stretched out I am guessing it measured about a foot across. Does anyone know what kind of spider this is?

http://picasaweb.google.com/caseycallais/Guatemala/photo#5209630938544346098

Answer 1

I think it's half spider half scorpion, like Spiderman is half spider half human, maybe the spider was bit by a scorpion! And yes it is a freaky spider, I would die if i saw it in my house

Answer 2

not sure..But i think this is the scariest spider!!Dont scream im still having nightmares!1http://www.funnyjunk.com/funny_pictures/...

Answer 3

It's actually a relative of spiders commonly known as a whip scorpion. Like scorpions, these creatures have claws for catching prey, but as the photo shows, the claws of whip scorpions tend to be very spikey. Unlike scorpions, whip scorpions do not have a sting and are not poisionous like some spiders are. However, some species of whip scorpions can defend themselves by spraying concentrated acetic acid. This is what gives vinegar its smell and when concentrated, acetic acid is rather like tear gas. Another common name for these creatures is "vinegaroons".

Answer 4

Scroll down this site, there are 3 of them , written in Spanish.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=h...

Scariest ???

These are, from Iraq.

http://www.scaryanimalz.com/images/camel...

Answer 5

Ahh nice find!  This is actually *not* a spider, but a relative of the spiders alongside the scorpions, ticks, mites, whip scorpions, pseudoscorpions, harvesman, exc (arachnids).

This is a Tailless whip scorpion, which isn't a scorpion either!  Common names of arachnids can be so confusion.

They belong to the order Amblypygi.  Despite their weird and intense appearance, they are harmless.  No venom or power full pincers or jaws.  They grab prey with raptorial claws, like those on a mantis.  

One of the most recent and popular starring of these guys was in the movie Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.  It was the strange spider creature that Prof Moody demonstrated the "unforgivable curses" on.

Lastly, I don't think they are that scary.  Now, seeing the macro of the face of an Ogre faced spider, also called netcasting spiders belonging to the family Deinopidae, kinda makes *me* jump.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11048463@N0...