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[waldo]

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-08/look-terrifying-goldenrod-cave-spider-discovered-oregon#comment-143845

natch.

so I just wake up to check my webcomics and blogs when i pop over to PopSci.com to check out the "sciency" headlines. this one got me a good chuckle!

[forsaken1111]

I think in DF vocabulary that is a 'normal' cave spider. Still very cool discovery.

[Aviator CJ]

Just to add to the 'holy crap' quotient, it has raptor as part of it's name. Even with a picture provided, I can't help but think of a velociraptor-spider hybrid.

[Loud Whispers]

Tiny lil' guy aint she? £:

[ledgekindred]

As a total science nerd though, it's pretty awesome that this isn't just a new species, or a new genus, but a whole new family.  I can imagine the biologists describing it saying, "It's definitely a spider, but uh, that's about all we can say yet."

[Gentlefish]

Also consider the fact that it was found in Oregon, in the US. I like to believe we're fairly heavily populated, and the fact that something so specially new and exotic was found here really gets me going.

But yeah, totally just a normal lil' cave spider. The article says it's no bigger than a half-dollar 

[misko27]

08/21/12 at 9:15 am

this post reminds me of dwarf fortress and their fun Giant Cave Spiders!
 
to mars or bust!

Wait a minute, which of you guys was this? And why has news of the martian program spread?

[Eric Blank]

Also consider the fact that it was found in Oregon, in the US. I like to believe we're fairly heavily populated

Yeah, the U.S. is pretty densely populated compared to some countries, but the northwest especially is mostly wilderness, especially in the high mountains. Lots and lots of wilderness, that almost nobody has seen in at least a very long time, and plenty aside that likely nobody ever will see from under 15,000 feet, because who cares enough to stick their ass out to go up that valley? Or that other one? The hanging valley with the moose staring at you from on-high? Don't want anything to do with that guy.
The population is mostly concentrated in the lowlands and along the coasts.

I think one of my family tried showing me this article earlier. I said "nope!" and left. Never liked spiders. The creepy long-limbed ones are just aweful.

[Volfgarix]

Let's go find the TRUE Giant Cave Spider! Later find cave crocs, hydras and Circus!
Interesting, how many things aren't discovered.

[cephalo]

Hmm, the article in the OP has a pic with a scale marker labeled '20 mm', but the same photo on the Wikipedia article has the scale marker at '4 mm'. So the article exaggerates by 5 times.

[Xheia]

Hmm, the article in the OP has a pic with a scale marker labeled '20 mm', but the same photo on the Wikipedia article has the scale marker at '4 mm'. So the article exaggerates by 5 times.

The article's scale marker probably says 2.0 mm.

[Qwernt]

Also consider the fact that it was found in Oregon, in the US. I like to believe we're fairly heavily populated, and the fact that something so specially new and exotic was found here really gets me going.

But yeah, totally just a normal lil' cave spider. The article says it's no bigger than a half-dollar 

Apparently you do know most of the US.  Oregon's density is about 40 people per square mile, however 2.26 out of 3.8 million people live in the portland area (145 sq miles) which gives the rest of the state a density closer to: 16 people per square mile.  Klamath Falls (city closest to where the spiders were found) has a massive population of 20,000.  And yes, it is the biggest city in the area (you have to drive at least 100 miles to find anything much bigger - I spent some college time there). 

All that said, is suspect the local population knew about the spider - or had at least seen them.  They just didn't realize it was anything special.  I mean, how many types of spiders can you identify?  For me it is:
Black Widow, Wolf, Daddy Long Legs, Tarantula (all kinds are the same to me), and "AAAAHHHHHhhhh there is a spider climbing down my neck!!!!! GET IT OFF!!!!! GET IT OFF!!!!"

[misko27]

Hmm, the article in the OP has a pic with a scale marker labeled '20 mm', but the same photo on the Wikipedia article has the scale marker at '4 mm'. So the article exaggerates by 5 times.

The article's scale marker probably says 2.0 mm.

I wish this was a discussion of meters, not millimeters.

[StLeibowitz]

I wish this was a discussion of meters, not millimeters.

Yeah. As it stands, I'd barely call this thing a spider. How are the Oregonians supposed to farm silk from these?

[Kaos]

It is a very strange and special spider, with some features that suggest it’s a relative of the goblin spider, but with a litany of other features that make it evolutionarily unique. It’s so different that the guy above represents a new genus, species and family on the tree of life.

Come on!! seriously guys which of you wrote the article?