Narrator:
THEY'VE RULED OUR PLANET FOR
OVER 400 MILLION YEARS... A FAMILY OF EIGHT-LEGGED FREAKS THAT COME IN MANY WEIRD
SHAPES AND SIZES. THEY THRIVE
IN THE TROPICAL JUNGLE... THE DESERT WASTELANDS... AND EVEN UNDERWATER. THERE ARE THE CARNIVOROUS GIANTS THAT RISE FROM THEIR
UNDERGROUND LAIRS TO FEAST ON FLESH. THE PREDATORS EQUIPPED
WITH AN ARSENAL OF WEAPONS. SOME ARE
ACCOMPLISHED ACROBATS... WHILE OTHERS SLING WEBS... WALK ON WATER... AND EVEN FLY. FINALLY, WE'LL REVEAL
THE MONSTER THAT RULES THEM ALL. IT'S THE BIGGEST SPIDER
ON THE FACE OF THE PLANET. FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY,
GRAB FRONT-ROW SEATS TO NATURE'S REAL
HOUSE OF HORRORS. Man: CRAZY MONSTER SPIDERS! Narrator: COME OUT OF THE COLD AND STEP INSIDE
OUR LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. THIS IS HOME TO NATURE'S
REAL FREAK SHOWS. HERE, EVERYTHING
GOES BUMP IN THE NIGHT... BUT FIRST TO THE STAGE IS OUR COLLECTION
OF EIGHT-LEGGED FREAKS. THERE'S THE FEMME FATALE THAT'S 15 TIMES DEADLIER
THAN A RATTLESNAKE... THE GIANT THAT'S BIGGER
THAN YOUR DINNER PLATE. ONE POUNCES LIKE A LEOPARD, WHILE ANOTHER CATCHES ITS PREY
WITH A HOMEMADE NET. BUT OUR FIRST ARACHNID IS EQUIPPED WITH MORE WEAPONS
THAN A SWAT TEAM! ♪ CRAZY MONSTER,
MONSTER SPIDERS! ♪ IN THE DESERT WASTELANDS
OF SOUTHERN AFRICA, FOOD IS HARD TO COME BY. OUT HERE TEMPERATURES REACH
WELL OVER 100 DEGREES. ONLY THE TOUGHEST CREATURES
SURVIVE. THE SNATCHING SPIDER,
OR SOLIFUGE, IS LIKE NOTHING
YOU'VE SEEN BEFORE. IT'S EQUIPPED WITH AN ARSENAL
OF BIZARRE WEAPONRY TO HUNT, TRACK AND KILL
ANYTHING IT CAN FIND. LONG, SENSITIVE HAIRS DETECT THE SLIGHTEST MOVEMENT
IN THE AIR FROM POTENTIAL PREY. WHILE STRANGE SENSORY CUPS PRESS AGAINST THE GROUND
LIKE TINY EARS AND PICK UP
THE SLIGHTEST VIBRATION... AND ITS ENORMOUS
CHAINSAW-LIKE EATING CLAWS ARE ABLE TO CRUSH
THROUGH SCORPIONS. THIS CREATURE IS A WEAPON
OF MASS DESTRUCTION. BUT IT'S ITS STICKY APPENDAGES THAT GIVE THIS ARACHNID
ITS NAME. AT THE TIP
OF EACH FRONT APPENDAGE IS A ROUND, EXPANDABLE ORGAN. THIS HAIRLESS SUCTION DEVICE
USES PRESSURE TO CATCH AND HOLD ON TO PREY. ONCE IT SNATCHES WITH
THESE SUCKERS, LITTLE ESCAPES! THE SNATCHER IS ALMOST
NEVER SEEN OUT IN THE DAY, BUT IN THE DESERT THIS PREDATOR
MUST RISK THE HEAT TO FIND FOOD. IT FRANTICALLY SCANS THE AREA,
PICKING UP ON ANY VIBRATION. SOMETIMES IF YOU STAND STILL,
THE PREY COMES TO YOU. ITS LEGS STICK LIKE GLUE. THE SNATCHER NEEDS
TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE GRASSHOPPER BUFFET. ♪ [GRASSHOPPER SQUEALING] HE HAS A BRUTAL TECHNIQUE,
BUT IT ENSURES A MEAL. [SQUEAL] ♪ WITH ITS PREY SNATCHED, IT'S TIME FOR ITS ENORMOUS JAWS
TO KICK INTO ACTION. LIKE HYDRAULIC PINCERS,
THEY CRUSH AND SLICE, TURNING THE PREY
INTO A DIGESTIBLE MUSH. WITH ITS BELLY NOW FULL, THE SNATCHER MUST ESCAPE
THE BLISTERING HEAT UNTIL NIGHTFALL... WHEN THE HUNTING
WILL BEGIN AGAIN. THE SNATCHING SPIDER MIGHT BE
A CRAFTY HUNTER, BUT THERE'S A SUPER-PREDATOR
OUT THERE THAT DOESN'T NEED STICKY FEET. IT'S THE SPIDER WORLD'S
VERY OWN AERIAL ASSASSIN. ♪ ♪ SCARY MONSTER SPIDERS ♪ IN THIS FOREST LIVES
A SMALL BUT DEADLY ASSASSIN. [BIRDS CALLING] THE JUMPING SPIDER
IS AN ACTIVE HUNTER. WHILE MOST SPIDERS SPIN A WEB
TO CATCH PREY, THIS PREDATOR HAS
A MORE DIRECT APPROACH. ITS EXTRAORDINARY EYESIGHT
AND JUMPING ABILITY ARE THE REASON
IT'S TO BE FEARED. THE SPIDER'S CAPABLE OF JUMPING OVER 30 TIMES THE LENGTH
OF ITS BODY. THAT'S THE EQUIVALENT OF A HUMAN JUMPING OVER HALF THE LENGTH
OF A FOOTBALL FIELD! IT'S SO POWERFUL THAT,
LIKE A BUNGEE JUMPER, IT NEEDS TO LAY A SAFETY LINE TO STOP IT
FROM OVERSHOOTING ITS MARK. BY CONTRACTING MUSCLES, FLUID IS
PUSHED INTO THE SPIDER'S LEGS. LIKE A HYDRAULIC PISTON,
THE CHANGE IN PRESSURE CAUSES THE LEGS
TO EXTEND RAPIDLY, FIRING THE SPIDER INTO THE AIR! THIS FEMALE IS ON THE PROWL. THE JUMPING SPIDER'S EIGHT EYES
ARE OPTIMIZED FOR HUNTING. HER ENORMOUS FORWARD-FACING EYES
JUDGE DISTANCE, WHILE HER SIDE
AND BACKWARD-FACING EYES SEE MOVEMENT, ALLOWING HER
TO SEE ALMOST 360 DEGREES. A DEAD LIZARD
IS ATTRACTING FLIES. THE DRONES TRY
TO SCARE HER OFF... BUT SHE'S NOT BUDGING. [BUZZING] SOMETIMES THINGS JUST DON'T GO
ACCORDING TO PLAN. THE SPIDER ONLY WEIGHS
A FRACTION OF AN OUNCE, AND THE BREEZE IS BLOWING HER
OFF COURSE. ♪ SHE MUST RECALCULATE
WIND DIRECTION AND DISTANCE. HER DAGGER-LIKE FANGS
HOOK ON FOR DEAR LIFE WHILE THE QUICK-ACTING VENOM
GETS TO WORK. KILLING IS ALL IN A DAY'S WORK
FOR THE JUMPING SPIDER. ♪ WHILE SOME SPIDERS POUNCE
ON THEIR PREY... THE FRIGHTENING WEB-SLINGER
THROWS A NET OVER ITS VICTIMS... STOPPING THEM IN THEIR TRACKS! ♪ MONSTER SPIDERS ♪ THIS COLLECTION OF SPIDERS
GETS EVEN CREEPIER THANKS TO THE WEB-SLINGER,
OR NET-CASTING SPIDER. ITS ENORMOUS EYES
AND SKINNY LEGS MAKE IT A LIVING,
BREATHING SKELETON. IT'S HAPPY TO EAT LAST NIGHT'S
MEAL IN DAYLIGHT... BUT THIS PREDATOR WILL ONLY HUNT
IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT. [OWL HOOTING] THIS FEMALE HAS FOUND
A LOW-HANGING TWIG TO HUNT FROM. SHE'LL USE A WEB TO CATCH PREY,
BUT IT'S NOT THE WEB YOU KNOW. SHE TEASES STRANDS OF SILK AND WEAVES A NET OF
HIGHLY ELASTIC, NON-STICKY SILK. SHE'S STATIONED HERSELF
THREE INCHES ABOVE THE GROUND... CLOSE TO PASSING INSECTS. [CRICKET CHIRPING] THIS FREAKY SPIDER IS GOING TO USE THIS WEB
AS A NET TO SLING OVER INSECTS
THAT SCUTTLE BELOW! SHE TAPS HER LEGS
ON THE FOREST FLOOR TO MEASURE HER EXACT DISTANCE
FROM HER TARGET. ♪ SHE STRETCHES THE WEB
TO THREE TIMES ITS RELAXED SIZE. THE WIDER SHE STRETCHES
THE ELASTIC THREADS, THE MORE ENTANGLED
HER PREY WILL BECOME. [CRICKET CHIRPING] BECAUSE THE SILK'S NOT STICKY, THROWING IT WITH THE RIGHT
AMOUNT OF FORCE IS CRITICAL. FAILED ATTEMPTS LEAD
TO A GRUBBY, DYSFUNCTIONAL NET. IT'S OF NO USE TO HER NOW. SHE'LL HAVE TO START AGAIN. ♪ ♪ [CHIRPING] THE ELASTIC SILK TIGHTENS
AROUND THE CRICKET. THE MORE IT STRUGGLES,
THE MORE ENTANGLED IT BECOMES. VENOMOUS STRIKES... FINALLY PARALYZE IT. THE CRICKET IS GOING NOWHERE... SO THE WEB-SLINGER LEAVES
TO CONTINUE HER ASSAULT ON THE INSECT WORLD. ♪ WHILE THE WEB-SLINGER SPIDER
WEAVES ITS OWN DEADLY NET, THERE IS ANOTHER
INCREDIBLE SPIDER THAT CATCHES ITS PREY
BY RUNNING ON WATER. THIS IS THE FISHING SPIDER. THIS SPIKY-LEGGED SPIDER HAUNTS FISH POND RESIDENTS
THE WORLD OVER. ITS GOOD LOOKS ARE ENOUGH
TO SCARE YOU TO DEATH. BUT IT'S ITS LEGS
THAT ARE TRULY FREAKY. THIS BIZARRE ARACHNID
NOT ONLY WALKS ON WATER... IT CAN READ THE UNDERWATER WORLD
WITH ITS LEGS. MILLIONS OF TINY SPIKES DETECT VIBRATIONS
ON THE WATER'S SURFACE. IT CAN ACCURATELY JUDGE WHERE
THE MOVEMENT IS COMING FROM, AND EVEN WHAT PREY ITEM IT IS. A MALE LIVES IN THIS SECTION
OF THE POND. AND IT'S FULL OF FOOD. HIS BACK LEGS ANCHOR HIM
TO THE SHORE, WHILE HIS SUPER-POWERED FEET
GET TO WORK. EVERY LITTLE VIBRATION
IS ASSESSED. THE FISH WAS JUST OUT OF REACH. WALKING ON WATER IS ONE THING, BUT THIS INCREDIBLE SPIDER
CAN ALSO BREATHE UNDERWATER! THE WATERPROOF HAIRS
AROUND THE SPIDER'S ABDOMEN CREATE AN AIR BUBBLE. ITS LUNGS LOOK LIKE
THE STACKED PAGES OF A BOOK AND DRAW THE OXYGEN
FROM THE BUBBLE. THIS INCREDIBLE ADAPTATION ALLOWS THE FISHING SPIDER
TO BREATHE UNDERWATER! THE FISH MAY HAVE BEEN SCARED OUT OF THE SPIDER'S
HUNTING ZONE, BUT NOW THEY'RE
IN THE SHALLOWS. ♪ THE FISHING SPIDER INJECTS
PARALYZING VENOM INTO THE FISH, WHICH SLOWLY TURNS ITS INSIDES
INTO A NUTRITIOUS SOUP. THIS PRIZED CATCH IS SOMETHING
WORTH BRAGGING ABOUT. ♪ SOME ARACHNIDS ARE EQUIPPED
WITH DEADLY VENOM, WHILE OTHERS DANCE
FOR A LIVING... BUT ONE SPINE-TINGLING SPIDER BUILDS ONE OF THE MOST
IMPRESSIVE WEBS ON THE PLANET. ♪ CRAZY MONSTER SPIDERS! ♪ [INSECTS CHIRPING] [BIRD CALLING] THE ENGINEERING SPIDER,
OR GOLDEN ORB, HAS SPENT OVER 160 MILLION YEARS HAUNTING TROPICAL AREAS
ACROSS THE GLOBE. BUT IT'S ITS WEB
THAT IS MOST TERRIFYING! ITS SEGMENTED LEGS
AND INWARD-POINTING ENDS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WEAVING
GIGANTIC SILK TRAPS THAT, OUNCE FOR OUNCE,
ARE STRONGER THAN STEEL. THEY'RE SO STRONG
THAT EVEN SMALL BIRDS AND BATS HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN THEM! THE GLITTERING GOLDEN SILK
IS A LURE TO GOOD FORTUNE. BUT IT'S A TRAP...
A PLATTER OF THE LIVING DEAD. THE ENGINEER'S WEB IS ONE OF NATURE'S
MOST HIGH-TECH INVENTIONS, AND THIS SPIDER IS NOT ARMED WITH JUST ONE SILK-PRODUCING
GLAND, BUT SEVEN. EACH GLAND PRODUCES
ITS OWN UNIQUE SILK. THEY MAKE TOUGH SILK
TO PROTECT THEIR EGGS... A SOFT SILK TO WRAP UP
THEIR PREY... AND THEY CAN EVEN PRODUCE
A CABLING SILK FOR STRUCTURAL SUPPORT
FOR WEBS. HOWEVER,
WHAT'S TRULY FASCINATING IS HOW THIS SILK IS PRODUCED. IT'S STORED AS A LIQUID
IN EACH GLAND. AS THE SPIDER CONTRACTS
ITS MUSCLES, IT FORCES THE LIQUID SILK OUT
THROUGH HUNDREDS OF TINY TUBES. THE MUSCULAR FORCE TURNS THE
LIQUID INTO A SOLID SILK STRAND. THESE INDIVIDUAL STRANDS TWIST
AND PLAIT TOGETHER TO PRODUCE
ONE SUPER STRONG CORD. ♪ THE FEMALE BUILDS THE ENTIRE WEB
ON HER OWN... WHILE A POTENTIAL MATE
FREELOADS. HE'LL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ANY
LEFTOVERS CAUGHT IN HER TRAP. BUT HE'S TEN TIMES SMALLER
THAN HER, SO MUST TREAD CAREFULLY. THE TIPS OF HER LEGS
ARE CONNECTED TO STRANDS THAT RADIATE
IN EIGHT DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. THROUGH VIBRATION,
SHE HAS A 360-DEGREE RADAR OVER HER ENTIRE WEB. WHEN PREY HITS... IT'S AS GOOD AS DEAD! ONCE PREY HITS HER WEB, THE ENGINEERING SPIDER
IS ON IT IN AN INSTANT. IT'S PARALYZED WITH VENOM AND WRAPPED ALIVE
IN SOFT PRESERVING SILK. ♪ SHE HANGS EACH COFFIN
AT THE CENTER OF THE WEB WITH STRONG CEMENTING SILK. THIS MEAL WILL STAY FRESH FOR
HOURS IN ITS TOMB-LIKE CASING. ♪ ♪ ONE BY ONE THE SPIDER
WRAPS HER PREY ALIVE IN THEIR GOLD COFFINS, WHILE THE MALE HANGS ON
FOR THE RIDE. ♪ THE ENGINEERING SPIDER'S COMPLEX
WEB DELIVERS EVERY TIME... AND AN AFTERNOON
OF FEASTING AWAITS. ♪ SPIDERS HAVE TAKEN OVER THE
TREETOPS AND THE JUNGLE FLOOR... BUT THE NEXT UNBELIEVABLE SPIDER SPENDS ITS ENTIRE LIFE
UNDERWATER! ♪ CRAZY MONSTER SPIDERS! ♪ THE FISHING SPIDER LIVES
ON THE SURFACE OF THE WATER... BUT THE SCUBA SPIDER
BREAKS ALL THE RULES. ♪ IT'S THE ONLY ARACHNID KNOWN
TO LIVE EXCLUSIVELY UNDERWATER. IT HAS NO FINS OR GILLS. BUT THIS AMAZING SPIDER
DOESN'T NEED THEM. IT BUILDS ITS VERY OWN
SUBMARINE AIR SUPPLY. THIS BUBBLE IS ITS LIFELINE... ITS HOMEMADE SCUBA TANK. TO CONSTRUCT THE BUBBLE THIS MALE SWIMS TO THE SURFACE
AND POPS HIS BUTT INTO THE AIR. LIKE THE FISHING SPIDER, THE AIR BUBBLE
AROUND HIS ABDOMEN ALLOWS HIM TO BREATHE
THROUGH HIS BOOK LUNGS. THIS ODD CRAB-LIKE SWIMMER COLLECTS SEVERAL BUBBLES
FROM THE SURFACE TO CREATE A LARGE RESERVOIR
OF OXYGEN. THIS IS THE SPIDER'S SANCTUARY
WHERE IT WILL FEED AND REST. THANKS TO EVOLUTION, IT HAS BEEN GIVEN THE TOOLS
TO CONQUER AN ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM! ♪ THIS SPIDER FREAK SHOW IS FULL
OF SURPRISING CHARACTERS. WHILE ONE SPIDER
LIVES UNDERWATER, ANOTHER DEADLY ARACHNID HUNTS
FROM BENEATH THE GROUND. THIS IS THE BABOON SPIDER... A FIVE-INCH MONSTER THAT LIVES
IN AN UNDERGROUND LAIR FOR MOST OF ITS LIFE. IT'S SHY AND SECRETIVE
BY NATURE, BUT IT HAS A DARK SIDE. ♪ IT GETS ITS NAME
FROM ITS ENORMOUS SIZE, ITS HAIRY BODY AND THE BABOON-LIKE PADS
ON THE END OF EACH LEG. ♪ ITS MANY EYES OPERATE
LIKE A BUILT-IN PERISCOPE SURVEYING THE SURROUNDINGS
OF ITS BURROW. BUT ITS FRIGHTENING LOOKS
AREN'T THE WORST OF IT. ♪ [CHIRPING] WHAT PREY DOESN'T KNOW
IS THAT ITS SECRETIVE HIDEOUT DOUBLES AS A DEADLY
MURDER WEAPON. WHEN IT'S NOT HUNGRY,
THE SPIDER SPINS A SEAL AT THE ENTRANCE TO ITS LAIR. THIS PREVENTS FALLING PREY FROM
DISTURBING HER BEAUTY SLEEP. BUT WHEN IT'S TIME TO EAT, THE BURROW BECOMES
A HIGH-TECH BOOBY TRAP. THE ENTRANCE IS LINED
WITH STRANDS OF SILK THAT TRAVEL INTO THE BURROW
AND OPERATE LIKE TRIP WIRES. WHEN MOVING PREY
TRIGGERS THE WIRES, VIBRATIONS WILL BE SENT
DOWN THE BURROW AND ALERT THE SPIDER
TO A POSSIBLE MEAL. SHE CAN DISTINGUISH BETWEEN
THE VIBRATIONS OF A PESKY ANT AND A MEATY CRICKET. A WIRE'S BEEN TRIGGERED. IT'S TIME TO FEED. THIS CRICKET'S MADE
A FATAL ERROR BY TRIGGERING
THE BABOON SPIDER'S TRIP WIRES. ♪ [CRUNCH] ♪ THE BABOON SPIDER
IS A CALCULATING KILLER. ♪ ANOTHER TRIP WIRE'S
BEEN SET OFF, AND THE OPPORTUNISTIC HUNTER
RETURNS TO THE SURFACE. MANY LEGS MEANS
MANY VIBRATIONS. ♪ ♪ FROM STRAIGHT OUT OF THE GROUND, THE CENTIPEDE MEETS
ITS GRUESOME DEATH. ♪ OVER A FOOT BELOW THE SURFACE, THE BABOON RETURNS
TO ITS SOLITARY CONFINEMENT... TO FEAST ON ITS PREY...ALIVE. THIS UNDERGROUND KILLER DOESN'T
COME OUT OF A HORROR STORY. IT'S NATURE'S
REAL-LIFE NIGHTMARE. ♪ SOME SPIDERS LIVE IN DUNGEONS,
WHILE OTHERS USE WEAPONS... BUT FEW CREATURES
ARE AS HAIR-RAISING AS THE ALIEN SPIDER! ♪ NO OTHER NAME COULD DESCRIBE
THIS SPOOKY ARACHNID. THE ALIEN SPIDER WOULD LOOK
MORE AT HOME ON THE MOON THAN ON PLANET EARTH. DURING THE DAY A FLAT BODY ALLOWS IT TO CRAWL
INTO DARK NOOKS AND CRANNIES... AND ITS PINCERS CAN GROW
TO TWICE THE LENGTH OF ITS BODY AND ARE TIPPED
WITH WOLVERINE-LIKE CLAWS. THE ALIEN SPIDER,
OR WHIP SPIDER, DOESN'T HAVE VENOM... SO IT GRABS ITS PREY
WITH ITS PINCERS AND IMPALES IT
WITH ITS FIENDISH SPIKES. AT NIGHT THE ALIEN SPIDER
SHOWS ITS TRUE COLORS. LONG SENSORY WHIPS
PROBE THE AIR... AND PICK UP VIBRATIONS
FROM MOVING PREY. THE ONLY THING CREEPIER
THAN AN ALIEN SPIDER... IS AN ALIEN SPIDER WITH BABIES. ♪ THESE MINI TRANSLUCENT ALIENS
WILL LIVE ON THE FEMALE'S BACK UNTIL THEY DEVELOP
THEIR VERY OWN ARMOR PLATING. AFTER THEIR FIRST MOLT THE GREEN SPROUTS TURN INTO
FULLY FORMED ARACHNIDS... EQUIPPED TO TERRORIZE THE DARK
CORNERS OF THE INSECT WORLD. THIS FRIGHTENING ARACHNID SHOULD COME STRAIGHT OUT
OF A SCI-FI FILM, NOT THE NATURAL WORLD! ♪ A SPIDER HAS EVOLVED FOR ALMOST
EVERY HABITAT ON THE PLANET. WHILE SOME LIVE UNDERGROUND
AND EVEN HUNT UNDERWATER, THERE IS ONE SPIDER THAT LIVES IN SAND DUNES
OVER 600 FEET HIGH! THE CARTWHEEL SPIDER LOOKS A LOT
LIKE MANY OTHER SPIDERS... BUT THIS ONE HAS
A UNIQUE ACROBATIC TALENT. OUT IN THE NAMIBIAN DESERT THERE
IS DANGER AROUND EVERY CORNER. SO A BURROW BENEATH
THE BOILING SAND IS ITS BEST CHANCE OF SURVIVAL. THE SILK-LINED BUNKER
WILL EXTEND OVER A FOOT DOWN AND PROTECT THE SPIDER
FROM THE HARSH DESERT SUN. BUT IT'S NOT JUST THE HEAT
THIS SPIDER'S ESCAPING FROM... THIS POMPILID WASP IS ON
THE HUNT FOR A CARTWHEEL SPIDER. IT DOESN'T WANT TO EAT IT... IT WANTS TO LAY
A SINGLE EGG INSIDE IT. WHEN ITS LARVA HATCHES IT'LL HAVE A FRESH
CARTWHEEL SPIDER TO FEAST ON. THE SPIDER DOES THE FINISHING
TOUCHES TO ITS HIDEOUT, JUST IN TIME. THE WASP SENSES MOVEMENT. ♪ THE WASP ONLY NEEDS
TO STING HIM ONCE. ♪ THE SPIDER MAKES HIS GETAWAY...
AND PULLS OUT HIS TRUMP CARD. BY FOLDING ITS LEGS INTO SPOKES,
THE SPIDER TURNS INTO A WHEEL AND CARTWHEELS DOWN THE DUNE
AT 20 TURNS A SECOND, LEAVING THE WASP IN ITS DUST! EVOLUTION HAS GIVEN
THE CARTWHEEL SPIDER A HELPING HAND
IN ITS DESERT ENVIRONMENT, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO TEST
ITS LUCK OUT IN THE OPEN! SOME HAVE BEEN GIVEN SIZE
INSTEAD OF SPEED, WHILE OTHERS WALK ON WATER... BUT THIS SPIDER
HAS EVOLVED VENOM SO POTENT IT COULD KILL YOU! ♪ CRAZY MONSTER SPIDERS! ♪ [COYOTE HOWLING] THIS FEMME FATALE
NEEDS LITTLE INTRODUCTION ON OUR FREAK SHOW STAGE. ♪ THE BLACK WIDOW IS NAMED
AFTER HER TENDENCY TO KILL AND EAT HER PARTNER
AFTER MATING. HER PIERCING FANGS HAVE ENDED
MANY A MAN'S LIFE. AND A THREATENING RED HOURGLASS
ON HER ABDOMEN IS THE TRADEMARK OF DANGER! THE BLACK WIDOW'S VENOM
IS THOUGHT TO BE 15 TIMES MORE POTENT THAN
SOME RATTLESNAKE SPECIES... BUT BECAUSE SHE INJECTS
LESS OF IT, HUMANS CAN SURVIVE HER BITE. AND IT'S NO WONDER SHE'S
SO FEARED BY THE MALES... THE FEMALE HAS MUCH LARGER FANGS
AND VENOM GLANDS! THIS FEMALE HASN'T EATEN
FOR WEEKS. SHE'S HAD OTHER THINGS
ON HER MIND. SHE'S JUST LAID HUNDREDS OF EGGS
IN THIS INCUBATED EGG SAC. ♪ SOON HUNDREDS
OF MINIATURE SPIDERS WILL ENTER THE WORLD TO CONTINUE
THE BLACK WIDOW LEGACY. WITH HER MOST IMPORTANT JOB
COMPLETE, IT'S TIME TO EAT. ♪ ♪ SHE HIDES BEHIND AN OVERHANG...
READY TO ATTACK. ♪ SHE RESTRAINS THE CRICKET
WITH SILK BEFORE PARALYZING IT WITH VENOM. CELLS LINING HER VENOM GLANDS PRODUCE HER POTENT
NEUROTOXIC VENOM. THESE CELLS DISINTEGRATE TO RELEASE A TOXIC CONCOCTION
INTO THE GLAND. WHEN THE WIDOW STRIKES,
MUSCLES AROUND THE GLAND CONTRACT TO FORCE THE VENOM OUT
THROUGH HOLLOW FANGS. THE VENOM SHUTS DOWN
THE CRICKET'S NERVOUS SYSTEM. BUT SHE DOESN'T EAT HER PREY
STRAIGHT AWAY. SHE STORES IT, LETTING THE VENOM'S ADDITIONAL
DIGESTIVE ENZYMES GET TO WORK WHILE SHE CONTINUES TO HUNT. WEEKS AFTER LAYING HER EGGS, HUNDREDS OF MINIATURE SPIDERS
COME TO LIFE... ♪ BUT THEY'RE HARMLESS...FOR NOW. IT'S ONLY
WHEN THEY BECOME ADULTS THAT THE FEMALES WILL BE
AS LETHAL AS THEIR MOTHER. THE BLACK WIDOW MALE MAY
GET KILLED JUST FOR SHOWING UP, BUT IN AUSTRALIA ANOTHER MALE IS WALKING THE TIGHTROPE
WITH HIS SONG AND DANCE. ♪ OUT OF THE SANDY EARTH
EMERGES A SPIDER SO TINY THAT EIGHT OF THEM COULD FIT
ON YOUR THUMBNAIL! THE PEACOCK SPIDER IS A TYPE
OF JUMPING SPIDER... WITH A TWIST. THESE BACHELORS ARE ON THE HUNT
FOR FEMALES. AND THEIR SEARCH TAKES THEM
INTO ENEMY TERRITORY. THERE'S ONLY ONE FEMALE HERE... SO ONCE THEY'VE SIZED
EACH OTHER UP, IT'S TIME TO FIGHT! ♪ ONCE THE COMPETITION'S
BEEN SCARED OFF... THE HARD WORK BEGINS. ♪ APPROACHING A SINGLE LADY
IS A RISKY BUSINESS. SHE'LL ATTACK
IF SHE'S NOT IN THE MOOD. SO THE MALE PEACOCK SPIDER HAS HAD TO TAKE HIS
COURTSHIP EFFORTS UP A NOTCH. LIGHTS...CAMERA...ACTION. ♪ ELECTRIC COLORS
MESMERIZE THE FEMALE. THIS IS THE SPIDER WORLD'S
VERY OWN BIRD OF PARADISE! ♪ THE DANCE SEEMS TO HAVE WORKED. WHEN IT COMES
TO PEACOCK SPIDER ROMANCE, IT'S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT SIZE. IT ALL COMES DOWN
TO THE BEST DANCE MOVES! WE'VE SEEN THE CREEPY CRAWLERS,
THE DEADLY ASSASSINS, AND THE EXPERT HUNTERS, BUT ONE SPIDER RULES THEM ALL. IT'S THE BIGGEST SPIDER
ON THE FACE OF THE PLANET. [GROWL] IT'S THE MIGHTY GOLIATH
BIRD-EATING TARANTULA! [SQUEAK] IN THE DAMP AMAZON RAINFOREST LIVES A SPIDER SO BIG
IT'LL COVER YOUR DINNER PLATE. ITS BODY IS COVERED IN HAIR, AND ITS FANGS ARE LONGER
THAN A LION'S CLAW. THIS BEHEMOTH IS THE SUBJECT
OF MYTH AND LEGEND... WITH ONLY A FEW HAVING EVER
BEEN SEEN IN THE WILD. THE GOLIATH
BIRD-EATING TARANTULA IS A FEARED SPIDER
FOR GOOD REASON. IT HAS A LEG SPAN OF 11 INCHES
AND WEIGHS OVER 6 OUNCES. IT'S SO BIG IT FEASTS
ON MICE AND EVEN BIRDS. IT'S AN AMBUSH HUNTER
SO IT LAYS LOW IN DARK CORNERS. BUT OUT IN THE JUNGLE,
EVEN THIS GIANT HAS ENEMIES. [SQUEAKING] THE GOLIATH ISN'T GOING TO TAKE
ITS CHANCES WITH THIS RODENT. AND ITS BEST FORM OF DEFENSE
IS ATTACK. WHEN PROVOKED, THE GOLIATH
BRUSHES HIS ABDOMEN, RELEASING THOUSANDS OF
HAIR-LIKE BRISTLES INTO THE AIR. THOUSANDS OF MINI HARPOONS FLY THROUGH THE AIR
TOWARDS THE ATTACKER. EACH MENACING BRISTLE
IS SHARPLY POINTED, WITH HOOKED BARBS ON ONE END. THE HARPOONS HOOK
INTO THE PREDATOR'S FLESH, CAUSING SEVERE PAIN AND ITCHING. WITH THE THREAT WARNED OFF,
IT'S BACK TO HUNTING. RETRACTABLE CLAWS HELP THE
GOLIATH CLIMB UP ANY SURFACE. [BIRDS CALLING] WHEN THE DAY DRAWS TO AN END,
THE JUNGLE COMES ALIVE... [BIRD CHIRPING] [CROAK] AND ALMOST EVERYTHING
IS ON THE GOLIATH'S MENU. ♪ ITS EYES ARE SMALL AND ILL-EQUIPPED
FOR NIGHTTIME HUNTING, SO IT RELIES ON
ITS MOST FINE-TUNED SENSE: TOUCH. THOUSANDS OF HAIRS
ALONG ITS BODY ALLOW IT TO DETECT PREY
BY FEELING FOR VIBRATIONS. JUST AHEAD IS A GECKO. THE REPTILE SEEMS UNAWARE THAT IT'S JUST INCHES AWAY FROM
THE WORLD'S BIGGEST SPIDER. ♪ [SQUEAKING] AS THE GOLIATH'S ENORMOUS FANGS
SINK INTO THE GECKO, PARALYZING VENOM IS INJECTED
INTO ITS BLOODSTREAM. VERY QUICKLY THE GECKO'S ORGANS
SHUT DOWN, AND THE VENOM'S ENZYMES
START DIGESTING IT FROM THE INSIDE OUT. IT'S A GRUESOME WAY TO DIE. BUT THEN AGAIN, THE MOST
FEARSOME SPIDER IN THE WORLD WOULDN'T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY. ♪ OUR FAMILY
OF EIGHT-LEGGED FREAKS HAS MANY WEIRD AND WONDERFUL
ADAPTATIONS, FROM ARROW SHOOTING
AND WALKING ON WATER TO DISCO DANCING
AND SLINGING WEBS, FROM THE ALIENS AND JUMPERS TO THE CARTWHEELERS
AND HUNTERS. BEWARE! THIS MOTLEY CREW OF CRITTERS
ALWAYS HAS AN EYE ON YOU. THEY'RE NATURE'S
REAL-LIFE FREAK SHOW! ♪ ♪ SPIDERS! ♪
