Original subtitles

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THEY’VE RULED OUR PLANET

FOR OVER 400 MILLION YEARS...

A FAMILY OF EIGHT-LEGGED FREAKS

THAT COME IN MANY WEIRD \h\h\hSHAPES AND SIZES.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY THRIVE IN THE TROPICAL JUNGLE...

THE DESERT WASTELANDS...

AND EVEN UNDERWATER.

THERE ARE THE CARNIVOROUS GIANTS

THAT RISE FROM THEIR \hUNDERGROUND LAIRS

TO FEAST ON FLESH.

\h\h\hTHE PREDATORS EQUIPPED WITH AN ARSENAL OF WEAPONS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSOME ARE ACCOMPLISHED ACROBATS...

WHILE OTHERS SLING WEBS...

WALK ON WATER...

AND EVEN FLY.

\h\h\h\h\h\hFINALLY, WE’LL REVEAL THE MONSTER THAT RULES THEM ALL.

\hIT’S THE BIGGEST SPIDER ON THE FACE OF THE PLANET.

FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY, GRAB FRONT-ROW SEATS

\hTO NATURE’S REAL HOUSE OF HORRORS.

Man: CRAZY MONSTER SPIDERS!

Narrator: COME OUT OF THE COLD

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND STEP INSIDE OUR LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS.

THIS IS HOME TO NATURE’S \h\h\h\hREAL FREAK SHOWS.

\h\h\h\h\hHERE, EVERYTHING GOES BUMP IN THE NIGHT...

BUT FIRST TO THE STAGE

\h\h\hIS OUR COLLECTION OF EIGHT-LEGGED FREAKS.

THERE’S THE FEMME FATALE

THAT’S 15 TIMES DEADLIER \h\hTHAN A RATTLESNAKE...

THE GIANT THAT’S BIGGER THAN YOUR DINNER PLATE.

ONE POUNCES LIKE A LEOPARD,

WHILE ANOTHER CATCHES ITS PREY \h\h\h\h\hWITH A HOMEMADE NET.

BUT OUR FIRST ARACHNID

IS EQUIPPED WITH MORE WEAPONS \h\h\h\h\h\hTHAN A SWAT TEAM!

\h♪ CRAZY MONSTER, MONSTER SPIDERS! ♪

IN THE DESERT WASTELANDS \h\h\hOF SOUTHERN AFRICA,

FOOD IS HARD TO COME BY.

OUT HERE TEMPERATURES REACH \h\h\hWELL OVER 100 DEGREES.

ONLY THE TOUGHEST CREATURES \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSURVIVE.

THE SNATCHING SPIDER, \h\h\h\hOR SOLIFUGE,

\h\hIS LIKE NOTHING YOU’VE SEEN BEFORE.

IT’S EQUIPPED WITH AN ARSENAL \h\h\h\h\hOF BIZARRE WEAPONRY

TO HUNT, TRACK AND KILL \hANYTHING IT CAN FIND.

LONG, SENSITIVE HAIRS DETECT

\h\h\h\hTHE SLIGHTEST MOVEMENT IN THE AIR FROM POTENTIAL PREY.

WHILE STRANGE SENSORY CUPS

PRESS AGAINST THE GROUND \h\h\h\h\hLIKE TINY EARS

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND PICK UP THE SLIGHTEST VIBRATION...

\h\h\h\h\hAND ITS ENORMOUS CHAINSAW-LIKE EATING CLAWS

ARE ABLE TO CRUSH THROUGH SCORPIONS.

THIS CREATURE IS A WEAPON \h\h\hOF MASS DESTRUCTION.

BUT IT’S ITS STICKY APPENDAGES

THAT GIVE THIS ARACHNID \h\h\h\h\h\h\hITS NAME.

\h\h\h\h\h\hAT THE TIP OF EACH FRONT APPENDAGE

IS A ROUND, EXPANDABLE ORGAN.

THIS HAIRLESS SUCTION DEVICE \h\h\h\h\h\h\hUSES PRESSURE

TO CATCH AND HOLD ON TO PREY.

\h\h\h\hONCE IT SNATCHES WITH THESE SUCKERS, LITTLE ESCAPES!

\h\hTHE SNATCHER IS ALMOST NEVER SEEN OUT IN THE DAY,

\hBUT IN THE DESERT THIS PREDATOR MUST RISK THE HEAT TO FIND FOOD.

IT FRANTICALLY SCANS THE AREA, \hPICKING UP ON ANY VIBRATION.

SOMETIMES IF YOU STAND STILL, \h\h\hTHE PREY COMES TO YOU.

ITS LEGS STICK LIKE GLUE.

THE SNATCHER NEEDS \hTO MAKE THE MOST

OF THE GRASSHOPPER BUFFET.

♪

[GRASSHOPPER SQUEALING]

HE HAS A BRUTAL TECHNIQUE, \h\hBUT IT ENSURES A MEAL.

[SQUEAL]

♪

WITH ITS PREY SNATCHED,

IT’S TIME FOR ITS ENORMOUS JAWS TO KICK INTO ACTION.

LIKE HYDRAULIC PINCERS, \hTHEY CRUSH AND SLICE,

\h\h\hTURNING THE PREY INTO A DIGESTIBLE MUSH.

WITH ITS BELLY NOW FULL,

THE SNATCHER MUST ESCAPE \h\h\hTHE BLISTERING HEAT

UNTIL NIGHTFALL...

\hWHEN THE HUNTING WILL BEGIN AGAIN.

THE SNATCHING SPIDER MIGHT BE \h\h\h\h\h\hA CRAFTY HUNTER,

BUT THERE’S A SUPER-PREDATOR \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOUT THERE

THAT DOESN’T NEED STICKY FEET.

\hIT’S THE SPIDER WORLD’S VERY OWN AERIAL ASSASSIN.

♪

♪ SCARY MONSTER SPIDERS ♪

\h\h\h\hIN THIS FOREST LIVES A SMALL BUT DEADLY ASSASSIN.

[BIRDS CALLING]

\hTHE JUMPING SPIDER IS AN ACTIVE HUNTER.

WHILE MOST SPIDERS SPIN A WEB \h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO CATCH PREY,

\h\h\hTHIS PREDATOR HAS A MORE DIRECT APPROACH.

ITS EXTRAORDINARY EYESIGHT \h\h\h\hAND JUMPING ABILITY

\h\hARE THE REASON IT’S TO BE FEARED.

THE SPIDER’S CAPABLE OF JUMPING

OVER 30 TIMES THE LENGTH \h\h\h\h\h\hOF ITS BODY.

THAT’S THE EQUIVALENT OF A HUMAN

JUMPING OVER HALF THE LENGTH \h\h\h\hOF A FOOTBALL FIELD!

IT’S SO POWERFUL THAT, \hLIKE A BUNGEE JUMPER,

IT NEEDS TO LAY A SAFETY LINE

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO STOP IT FROM OVERSHOOTING ITS MARK.

BY CONTRACTING MUSCLES, FLUID IS PUSHED INTO THE SPIDER’S LEGS.

LIKE A HYDRAULIC PISTON, \hTHE CHANGE IN PRESSURE

\h\hCAUSES 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,

\h\h\h\h\hWHILE HER SIDE AND BACKWARD-FACING EYES

SEE MOVEMENT, ALLOWING HER TO SEE ALMOST 360 DEGREES.

\h\h\hA DEAD LIZARD IS ATTRACTING FLIES.

\h\hTHE DRONES TRY TO SCARE HER OFF...

BUT SHE’S NOT BUDGING.

[BUZZING]

SOMETIMES THINGS JUST DON’T GO \h\h\h\h\h\hACCORDING TO PLAN.

THE SPIDER ONLY WEIGHS A FRACTION OF AN OUNCE,

AND THE BREEZE IS BLOWING HER \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOFF COURSE.

♪

\h\h\h\hSHE MUST RECALCULATE WIND DIRECTION AND DISTANCE.

HER DAGGER-LIKE FANGS HOOK ON FOR DEAR LIFE

WHILE THE QUICK-ACTING VENOM \h\h\h\h\h\h\hGETS TO WORK.

KILLING IS ALL IN A DAY’S WORK \h\h\hFOR THE JUMPING SPIDER.

♪

WHILE SOME SPIDERS POUNCE \h\h\h\h\hON THEIR PREY...

\h\h\hTHE FRIGHTENING WEB-SLINGER THROWS A NET OVER ITS VICTIMS...

STOPPING THEM IN THEIR TRACKS!

♪ MONSTER SPIDERS ♪

THIS COLLECTION OF SPIDERS \h\h\h\hGETS EVEN CREEPIER

THANKS TO THE WEB-SLINGER, \h\hOR NET-CASTING SPIDER.

ITS ENORMOUS EYES \hAND SKINNY LEGS

\hMAKE IT A LIVING, BREATHING SKELETON.

IT’S HAPPY TO EAT LAST NIGHT’S \h\h\h\h\hMEAL IN DAYLIGHT...

BUT THIS PREDATOR WILL ONLY HUNT IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT.

[OWL HOOTING]

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHIS 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

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND WEAVES A NET OF HIGHLY ELASTIC, NON-STICKY SILK.

\h\h\h\hSHE’S STATIONED HERSELF THREE INCHES ABOVE THE GROUND...

CLOSE TO PASSING INSECTS.

[CRICKET CHIRPING]

THIS FREAKY SPIDER

IS GOING TO USE THIS WEB \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAS A NET

TO SLING OVER INSECTS \hTHAT SCUTTLE BELOW!

\hSHE TAPS HER LEGS ON THE FOREST FLOOR

TO MEASURE HER EXACT DISTANCE \h\h\h\h\h\hFROM HER TARGET.

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\hSHE STRETCHES THE WEB TO THREE TIMES ITS RELAXED SIZE.

THE WIDER SHE STRETCHES \hTHE ELASTIC THREADS,

\h\hTHE MORE ENTANGLED HER PREY WILL BECOME.

[CRICKET CHIRPING]

BECAUSE THE SILK’S NOT STICKY,

\hTHROWING IT WITH THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF FORCE IS CRITICAL.

\h\h\h\h\h\hFAILED 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 \h\h\hAROUND THE CRICKET.

\h\h\h\hTHE MORE IT STRUGGLES, THE MORE ENTANGLED IT BECOMES.

VENOMOUS STRIKES...

FINALLY PARALYZE IT.

THE CRICKET IS GOING NOWHERE...

SO THE WEB-SLINGER LEAVES \hTO CONTINUE HER ASSAULT

ON THE INSECT WORLD.

♪

WHILE THE WEB-SLINGER SPIDER \hWEAVES ITS OWN DEADLY NET,

\hTHERE IS ANOTHER INCREDIBLE SPIDER

THAT CATCHES ITS PREY \hBY RUNNING ON WATER.

THIS IS THE FISHING SPIDER.

THIS SPIKY-LEGGED SPIDER

HAUNTS FISH POND RESIDENTS \h\h\h\h\h\hTHE WORLD OVER.

ITS GOOD LOOKS ARE ENOUGH \hTO SCARE YOU TO DEATH.

\h\h\hBUT IT’S ITS LEGS THAT ARE TRULY FREAKY.

\h\h\hTHIS BIZARRE ARACHNID NOT ONLY WALKS ON WATER...

IT CAN READ THE UNDERWATER WORLD WITH ITS LEGS.

MILLIONS OF TINY SPIKES

\h\h\hDETECT 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 \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE POND.

AND IT’S FULL OF FOOD.

HIS BACK LEGS ANCHOR HIM \h\h\h\h\h\hTO THE SHORE,

WHILE HIS SUPER-POWERED FEET \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hGET TO WORK.

EVERY LITTLE VIBRATION \h\h\h\h\hIS ASSESSED.

THE FISH WAS JUST OUT OF REACH.

WALKING ON WATER IS ONE THING,

\hBUT THIS INCREDIBLE SPIDER CAN ALSO BREATHE UNDERWATER!

\h\h\h\hTHE WATERPROOF HAIRS AROUND THE SPIDER’S ABDOMEN

CREATE AN AIR BUBBLE.

\h\h\h\hITS LUNGS LOOK LIKE THE STACKED PAGES OF A BOOK

AND DRAW THE OXYGEN \hFROM THE BUBBLE.

THIS INCREDIBLE ADAPTATION

ALLOWS THE FISHING SPIDER \hTO BREATHE UNDERWATER!

THE FISH MAY HAVE BEEN SCARED

OUT OF THE SPIDER’S \h\h\hHUNTING ZONE,

\hBUT NOW THEY’RE IN THE SHALLOWS.

♪

\h\h\hTHE FISHING SPIDER INJECTS PARALYZING VENOM INTO THE FISH,

WHICH SLOWLY TURNS ITS INSIDES \h\h\hINTO A NUTRITIOUS SOUP.

THIS PRIZED CATCH IS SOMETHING \h\h\h\hWORTH BRAGGING ABOUT.

♪

SOME ARACHNIDS ARE EQUIPPED \h\h\h\h\hWITH DEADLY VENOM,

WHILE OTHERS DANCE \h\hFOR A LIVING...

BUT ONE SPINE-TINGLING SPIDER

\h\h\h\hBUILDS ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE WEBS ON THE PLANET.

♪ CRAZY MONSTER SPIDERS! ♪

[INSECTS CHIRPING]

[BIRD CALLING]

THE ENGINEERING SPIDER, \h\h\h\hOR GOLDEN ORB,

HAS SPENT OVER 160 MILLION YEARS

HAUNTING TROPICAL AREAS \h\h\hACROSS THE GLOBE.

\h\h\h\hBUT IT’S ITS WEB THAT IS MOST TERRIFYING!

\h\h\hITS SEGMENTED LEGS AND INWARD-POINTING ENDS

ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WEAVING \h\h\h\hGIGANTIC SILK TRAPS

\hTHAT, OUNCE FOR OUNCE, ARE STRONGER THAN STEEL.

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY’RE SO STRONG THAT EVEN SMALL BIRDS AND BATS

HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN THEM!

THE GLITTERING GOLDEN SILK IS A LURE TO GOOD FORTUNE.

\h\h\h\h\hBUT IT’S A TRAP... A PLATTER OF THE LIVING DEAD.

THE ENGINEER’S WEB

\h\h\h\hIS ONE OF NATURE’S MOST HIGH-TECH INVENTIONS,

AND THIS SPIDER IS NOT ARMED

WITH JUST ONE SILK-PRODUCING \h\h\h\h\hGLAND, BUT SEVEN.

EACH GLAND PRODUCES ITS OWN UNIQUE SILK.

\h\hTHEY MAKE TOUGH SILK TO PROTECT THEIR EGGS...

A SOFT SILK TO WRAP UP \h\h\h\h\hTHEIR PREY...

AND THEY CAN EVEN PRODUCE \h\h\h\h\h\hA CABLING SILK

FOR STRUCTURAL SUPPORT \h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR WEBS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHOWEVER, WHAT’S TRULY FASCINATING

IS HOW THIS SILK IS PRODUCED.

IT’S STORED AS A LIQUID \h\h\h\hIN EACH GLAND.

AS THE SPIDER CONTRACTS \h\h\h\h\hITS MUSCLES,

\hIT FORCES THE LIQUID SILK OUT THROUGH HUNDREDS OF TINY TUBES.

\h\hTHE MUSCULAR FORCE TURNS THE LIQUID INTO A SOLID SILK STRAND.

THESE INDIVIDUAL STRANDS TWIST \h\h\h\h\h\hAND PLAIT TOGETHER

\h\h\h\h\h\hTO PRODUCE ONE SUPER STRONG CORD.

♪

THE FEMALE BUILDS THE ENTIRE WEB ON HER OWN...

WHILE A POTENTIAL MATE \h\h\h\h\h\hFREELOADS.

\hHE’LL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ANY LEFTOVERS CAUGHT IN HER TRAP.

BUT HE’S TEN TIMES SMALLER \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAN HER,

SO MUST TREAD CAREFULLY.

\h\hTHE TIPS OF HER LEGS ARE CONNECTED TO STRANDS

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT RADIATE IN EIGHT DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.

\h\h\h\hTHROUGH 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

\h\h\h\hAND WRAPPED ALIVE IN SOFT PRESERVING SILK.

♪

\h\hSHE 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 \hWRAPS HER PREY ALIVE

IN THEIR GOLD COFFINS,

WHILE THE MALE HANGS ON \h\h\h\h\hFOR THE RIDE.

♪

THE ENGINEERING SPIDER’S COMPLEX WEB DELIVERS EVERY TIME...

\hAND AN AFTERNOON OF FEASTING AWAITS.

♪

\h\h\hSPIDERS HAVE TAKEN OVER THE TREETOPS AND THE JUNGLE FLOOR...

BUT THE NEXT UNBELIEVABLE SPIDER

SPENDS ITS ENTIRE LIFE \h\h\h\h\h\hUNDERWATER!

♪ CRAZY MONSTER SPIDERS! ♪

\h\h\hTHE FISHING SPIDER LIVES ON THE SURFACE OF THE WATER...

\hBUT THE SCUBA SPIDER BREAKS ALL THE RULES.

♪

\hIT’S THE ONLY ARACHNID KNOWN TO LIVE EXCLUSIVELY UNDERWATER.

IT HAS NO FINS OR GILLS.

BUT THIS AMAZING SPIDER \h\hDOESN’T NEED THEM.

IT BUILDS ITS VERY OWN \hSUBMARINE AIR SUPPLY.

THIS BUBBLE IS ITS LIFELINE...

ITS HOMEMADE SCUBA TANK.

TO CONSTRUCT THE BUBBLE

\hTHIS MALE SWIMS TO THE SURFACE AND POPS HIS BUTT INTO THE AIR.

LIKE THE FISHING SPIDER,

\h\hTHE AIR BUBBLE AROUND HIS ABDOMEN

\hALLOWS HIM TO BREATHE THROUGH HIS BOOK LUNGS.

THIS ODD CRAB-LIKE SWIMMER

COLLECTS SEVERAL BUBBLES \h\h\h\hFROM THE SURFACE

TO CREATE A LARGE RESERVOIR \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF OXYGEN.

THIS IS THE SPIDER’S SANCTUARY \hWHERE IT WILL FEED AND REST.

THANKS TO EVOLUTION,

\h\hIT HAS BEEN GIVEN THE TOOLS TO CONQUER AN ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM!

♪

THIS SPIDER FREAK SHOW IS FULL \h\hOF SURPRISING CHARACTERS.

\hWHILE ONE SPIDER LIVES UNDERWATER,

ANOTHER DEADLY ARACHNID HUNTS \h\hFROM BENEATH THE GROUND.

THIS IS THE BABOON SPIDER...

A FIVE-INCH MONSTER THAT LIVES \h\h\h\hIN AN UNDERGROUND LAIR

FOR MOST OF ITS LIFE.

IT’S SHY AND SECRETIVE \h\h\h\h\h\hBY NATURE,

BUT IT HAS A DARK SIDE.

♪

\h\h\hIT GETS ITS NAME FROM ITS ENORMOUS SIZE,

ITS HAIRY BODY

AND THE BABOON-LIKE PADS \hON THE END OF EACH LEG.

♪

\h\hITS MANY EYES OPERATE LIKE A BUILT-IN PERISCOPE

SURVEYING THE SURROUNDINGS \h\h\h\h\h\hOF ITS BURROW.

BUT ITS FRIGHTENING LOOKS \hAREN’T THE WORST OF IT.

♪

[CHIRPING]

\h\h\hWHAT PREY DOESN’T KNOW IS THAT ITS SECRETIVE HIDEOUT

DOUBLES AS A DEADLY \h\hMURDER WEAPON.

\hWHEN 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,

\h\hTHE BURROW BECOMES A HIGH-TECH BOOBY TRAP.

THE ENTRANCE IS LINED \hWITH STRANDS OF SILK

THAT TRAVEL INTO THE BURROW AND OPERATE LIKE TRIP WIRES.

\hWHEN MOVING PREY TRIGGERS THE WIRES,

VIBRATIONS WILL BE SENT \h\h\h\hDOWN THE BURROW

AND ALERT THE SPIDER TO A POSSIBLE MEAL.

\hSHE 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 \h\h\hA FATAL ERROR

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBY TRIGGERING THE BABOON SPIDER’S TRIP WIRES.

♪

[CRUNCH]

♪

\h\h\h\hTHE BABOON SPIDER IS A CALCULATING KILLER.

♪

ANOTHER TRIP WIRE’S \h\h\hBEEN SET OFF,

AND THE OPPORTUNISTIC HUNTER \h\hRETURNS TO THE SURFACE.

\hMANY LEGS MEANS MANY VIBRATIONS.

♪

♪

FROM STRAIGHT OUT OF THE GROUND,

THE CENTIPEDE MEETS ITS GRUESOME DEATH.

♪

OVER A FOOT BELOW THE SURFACE,

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE BABOON RETURNS TO ITS SOLITARY CONFINEMENT...

TO FEAST ON ITS PREY...ALIVE.

THIS UNDERGROUND KILLER DOESN’T COME OUT OF A HORROR STORY.

\h\h\hIT’S NATURE’S REAL-LIFE NIGHTMARE.

♪

SOME SPIDERS LIVE IN DUNGEONS, \hWHILE OTHERS USE WEAPONS...

\hBUT FEW CREATURES ARE AS HAIR-RAISING

AS THE ALIEN SPIDER!

♪

NO OTHER NAME COULD DESCRIBE \h\h\hTHIS SPOOKY ARACHNID.

THE ALIEN SPIDER WOULD LOOK \hMORE AT HOME ON THE MOON

THAN ON PLANET EARTH.

DURING THE DAY A FLAT BODY

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hALLOWS IT TO CRAWL INTO DARK NOOKS AND CRANNIES...

\h\h\hAND ITS PINCERS CAN GROW TO TWICE THE LENGTH OF ITS BODY

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND ARE TIPPED WITH WOLVERINE-LIKE CLAWS.

THE ALIEN SPIDER, \hOR WHIP SPIDER,

DOESN’T HAVE VENOM...

SO IT GRABS ITS PREY \h\hWITH ITS PINCERS

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND IMPALES IT WITH ITS FIENDISH SPIKES.

AT NIGHT THE ALIEN SPIDER \hSHOWS ITS TRUE COLORS.

LONG SENSORY WHIPS \hPROBE THE AIR...

AND PICK UP VIBRATIONS \h\h\hFROM 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

\h\h\h\h\hUNTIL THEY DEVELOP THEIR VERY OWN ARMOR PLATING.

AFTER THEIR FIRST MOLT

THE GREEN SPROUTS TURN INTO \hFULLY FORMED ARACHNIDS...

EQUIPPED TO TERRORIZE THE DARK \hCORNERS OF THE INSECT WORLD.

THIS FRIGHTENING ARACHNID

SHOULD COME STRAIGHT OUT \h\h\h\hOF A SCI-FI FILM,

NOT THE NATURAL WORLD!

♪

A SPIDER HAS EVOLVED FOR ALMOST EVERY HABITAT ON THE PLANET.

WHILE SOME LIVE UNDERGROUND \hAND EVEN HUNT UNDERWATER,

THERE IS ONE SPIDER

THAT LIVES IN SAND DUNES \h\h\hOVER 600 FEET HIGH!

THE CARTWHEEL SPIDER LOOKS A LOT LIKE MANY OTHER SPIDERS...

\h\h\h\h\hBUT THIS ONE HAS A UNIQUE ACROBATIC TALENT.

OUT IN THE NAMIBIAN DESERT THERE IS DANGER AROUND EVERY CORNER.

SO A BURROW BENEATH \hTHE BOILING SAND

IS ITS BEST CHANCE OF SURVIVAL.

\h\h\hTHE SILK-LINED BUNKER WILL EXTEND OVER A FOOT DOWN

\h\hAND PROTECT THE SPIDER FROM THE HARSH DESERT SUN.

\h\hBUT IT’S NOT JUST THE HEAT THIS SPIDER’S ESCAPING FROM...

\h\h\h\hTHIS POMPILID WASP IS ON THE HUNT FOR A CARTWHEEL SPIDER.

IT DOESN’T WANT TO EAT IT...

\h\h\h\hIT WANTS TO LAY A SINGLE EGG INSIDE IT.

WHEN ITS LARVA HATCHES

\h\h\h\h\hIT’LL HAVE A FRESH CARTWHEEL SPIDER TO FEAST ON.

THE SPIDER DOES THE FINISHING \h\h\hTOUCHES 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 \h\h\hAT 20 TURNS A SECOND,

LEAVING THE WASP IN ITS DUST!

EVOLUTION HAS GIVEN THE CARTWHEEL SPIDER

\h\h\h\h\h\hA HELPING HAND IN ITS DESERT ENVIRONMENT,

BUT IT’S NOT GOING TO TEST \hITS LUCK OUT IN THE OPEN!

SOME HAVE BEEN GIVEN SIZE \h\h\h\hINSTEAD OF SPEED,

WHILE OTHERS WALK ON WATER...

\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT THIS SPIDER HAS EVOLVED VENOM SO POTENT

IT COULD KILL YOU!

♪ CRAZY MONSTER SPIDERS! ♪

[COYOTE HOWLING]

\h\h\h\hTHIS FEMME FATALE NEEDS LITTLE INTRODUCTION

ON OUR FREAK SHOW STAGE.

♪

THE BLACK WIDOW IS NAMED \h\h\hAFTER HER TENDENCY

TO KILL AND EAT HER PARTNER \h\h\h\h\h\h\hAFTER MATING.

HER PIERCING FANGS HAVE ENDED \h\h\h\h\hMANY A MAN’S LIFE.

AND A THREATENING RED HOURGLASS ON HER ABDOMEN

IS THE TRADEMARK OF DANGER!

THE BLACK WIDOW’S VENOM \h\h\hIS THOUGHT TO BE

\h15 TIMES MORE POTENT THAN SOME RATTLESNAKE SPECIES...

BUT BECAUSE SHE INJECTS \h\h\h\h\h\hLESS 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 \h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR WEEKS.

SHE’S HAD OTHER THINGS \h\h\h\h\hON HER MIND.

SHE’S JUST LAID HUNDREDS OF EGGS IN THIS INCUBATED EGG SAC.

♪

\h\h\hSOON HUNDREDS OF MINIATURE SPIDERS

WILL ENTER THE WORLD TO CONTINUE THE BLACK WIDOW LEGACY.

WITH HER MOST IMPORTANT JOB \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hCOMPLETE,

IT’S TIME TO EAT.

♪

♪

SHE HIDES BEHIND AN OVERHANG... READY TO ATTACK.

♪

SHE RESTRAINS THE CRICKET \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWITH SILK

BEFORE PARALYZING IT WITH VENOM.

CELLS LINING HER VENOM GLANDS

PRODUCE HER POTENT NEUROTOXIC VENOM.

THESE CELLS DISINTEGRATE

TO RELEASE A TOXIC CONCOCTION \h\h\h\h\h\h\hINTO THE GLAND.

\hWHEN THE WIDOW STRIKES, MUSCLES AROUND THE GLAND

CONTRACT TO FORCE THE VENOM OUT THROUGH HOLLOW FANGS.

\h\h\h\hTHE VENOM SHUTS DOWN THE CRICKET’S NERVOUS SYSTEM.

BUT SHE DOESN’T EAT HER PREY \h\h\h\h\h\h\hSTRAIGHT 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 \h\h\h\h\h\h\hCOME TO LIFE...

♪

BUT THEY’RE HARMLESS...FOR NOW.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIT’S ONLY WHEN THEY BECOME ADULTS

\hTHAT THE FEMALES WILL BE AS LETHAL AS THEIR MOTHER.

\h\h\hTHE BLACK WIDOW MALE MAY GET KILLED JUST FOR SHOWING UP,

BUT IN AUSTRALIA ANOTHER MALE

IS WALKING THE TIGHTROPE WITH HIS SONG AND DANCE.

♪

\hOUT OF THE SANDY EARTH EMERGES A SPIDER SO TINY

THAT EIGHT OF THEM COULD FIT \h\h\h\h\hON YOUR THUMBNAIL!

THE PEACOCK SPIDER IS A TYPE \h\h\h\hOF JUMPING SPIDER...

WITH A TWIST.

THESE BACHELORS ARE ON THE HUNT FOR FEMALES.

AND THEIR SEARCH TAKES THEM \h\h\hINTO ENEMY TERRITORY.

THERE’S ONLY ONE FEMALE HERE...

SO ONCE THEY’VE SIZED \h\h\h\hEACH OTHER UP,

IT’S TIME TO FIGHT!

♪

ONCE THE COMPETITION’S \h\hBEEN SCARED OFF...

THE HARD WORK BEGINS.

♪

APPROACHING A SINGLE LADY \h\h\hIS A RISKY BUSINESS.

\h\h\h\h\h\hSHE’LL ATTACK IF SHE’S NOT IN THE MOOD.

SO THE MALE PEACOCK SPIDER

\h\h\h\h\hHAS HAD TO TAKE HIS COURTSHIP EFFORTS UP A NOTCH.

LIGHTS...CAMERA...ACTION.

♪

\h\h\hELECTRIC COLORS MESMERIZE THE FEMALE.

THIS IS THE SPIDER WORLD’S VERY OWN BIRD OF PARADISE!

♪

THE DANCE SEEMS TO HAVE WORKED.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWHEN IT COMES TO PEACOCK SPIDER ROMANCE,

IT’S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT SIZE.

\h\h\h\hIT 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.

\hIT’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

\h\h\h\hLIVES A SPIDER SO BIG IT’LL COVER YOUR DINNER PLATE.

ITS BODY IS COVERED IN HAIR,

AND ITS FANGS ARE LONGER \h\h\hTHAN A LION’S CLAW.

THIS BEHEMOTH IS THE SUBJECT \h\h\hOF MYTH AND LEGEND...

WITH ONLY A FEW HAVING EVER \h\h\hBEEN SEEN IN THE WILD.

\h\h\h\h\hTHE GOLIATH BIRD-EATING TARANTULA

IS A FEARED SPIDER \hFOR GOOD REASON.

IT HAS A LEG SPAN OF 11 INCHES \h\hAND WEIGHS OVER 6 OUNCES.

\hIT’S SO BIG IT FEASTS ON MICE AND EVEN BIRDS.

\h\h\h\h\hIT’S AN AMBUSH HUNTER SO IT LAYS LOW IN DARK CORNERS.

\h\h\hBUT 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 \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS ATTACK.

WHEN PROVOKED, THE GOLIATH \h\h\hBRUSHES HIS ABDOMEN,

\h\h\h\h\hRELEASING THOUSANDS OF HAIR-LIKE BRISTLES INTO THE AIR.

THOUSANDS OF MINI HARPOONS

\hFLY THROUGH THE AIR TOWARDS THE ATTACKER.

EACH MENACING BRISTLE \hIS SHARPLY POINTED,

WITH HOOKED BARBS ON ONE END.

\h\h\h\h\hTHE HARPOONS HOOK INTO THE PREDATOR’S FLESH,

CAUSING SEVERE PAIN AND ITCHING.

WITH THE THREAT WARNED OFF, \h\h\hIT’S BACK TO HUNTING.

\hRETRACTABLE CLAWS HELP THE GOLIATH CLIMB UP ANY SURFACE.

[BIRDS CALLING]

WHEN THE DAY DRAWS TO AN END, \h\hTHE JUNGLE COMES ALIVE...

[BIRD CHIRPING]

[CROAK]

\h\hAND ALMOST EVERYTHING IS ON THE GOLIATH’S MENU.

♪

ITS EYES ARE SMALL

\h\h\hAND ILL-EQUIPPED FOR NIGHTTIME HUNTING,

\h\h\h\h\h\hSO IT RELIES ON ITS MOST FINE-TUNED SENSE:

TOUCH.

THOUSANDS OF HAIRS \h\hALONG ITS BODY

\hALLOW 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 \h\h\hINTO ITS BLOODSTREAM.

VERY QUICKLY THE GECKO’S ORGANS SHUT DOWN,

AND THE VENOM’S ENZYMES \h\hSTART DIGESTING IT

FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

IT’S A GRUESOME WAY TO DIE.

\h\hBUT THEN AGAIN, THE MOST FEARSOME SPIDER IN THE WORLD

WOULDN’T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY.

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\hOUR FAMILY OF EIGHT-LEGGED FREAKS

HAS MANY WEIRD AND WONDERFUL \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hADAPTATIONS,

FROM ARROW SHOOTING AND WALKING ON WATER

\hTO DISCO DANCING AND SLINGING WEBS,

FROM THE ALIENS AND JUMPERS

TO THE CARTWHEELERS \h\h\hAND HUNTERS.

BEWARE!

THIS MOTLEY CREW OF CRITTERS \hALWAYS HAS AN EYE ON YOU.

\h\h\hTHEY’RE NATURE’S REAL-LIFE FREAK SHOW!

♪

♪ SPIDERS! ♪