Barking spider
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| Selenocosmia crassipes (L. Koch, 1874) |
The Barking spider (Selenocosmia crassipes) is a species of tarantula native to the east coast of Queensland, Australia.
Phlogius Sp.Crassipes can attain legspans reaching lengths of up to 8"(20cm) with a few specimens reaching 22cm with body measurements from 7-9cm, and has been described as Australia's largest spider. The young spiders burrow under rocks or roots; in adults, these burrows can reach a length of up to two meters and are lined with much silk. The adult males look very different from the females. They commonly prey on insects and small vertebrates such as frogs, mice, and lizards. There are two species in Australia closely related to Phlogius Crassipes, being Phlogius Sp.'Sarina' and Phlogius Sp.'Eunice'. Both Tarantula's can attain legspans of 7 - 8 inches, with Sp.Crassipes boasting the thickest build followed by Sp. Eunice and Sp .Sarina the thinnest.
It is often confused with Phlogiellus species, and these are often sold in petshops as S. crassipes.
[edit] Name
The species name crassipes is Latin for "fat leg". It is called "barking spider" because it "hisses" (stridulates) when disturbed, which it shares with nearly all Australian tarantulas (except some Phlogiellus species).
[edit] Humorous usage
The term barking spider is also used as a jocular reference to an audible instance of flatulence, or a fart. The term is somewhat of a euphemism in this regard, and is often used to diffuse the awkwardness created by such an instance.
