So like many people I once had a fear of those 8 legged creepy crawlies better known as spider's, but after an experiance i had with a 2 tell u the truth quite beautiful costa rican stripe zebra tarantula named coco i now hav learnt 2 give them a bit more respect, tarantulas, in particular the mexican red kneed, r very placid and timid spiders (i found this out after doing a bit of research) and like all spiders will only bite if they feel threatned. they are extremely interesting 2 watch although very intimidating like at 1st. apparantly they make good pets and this particular species can only be if they hav been bred in captivity as they are endagered.

DID U KNOW

*new zealand is home 2 over 1100 species of spider with over 95% of them unique 2 new zealand, some estimates suggest we could hav approximatly 3500 species of spiders here.

*spiders are soft bodied and are preserved for display and research in ethanol

*a brazilian bird eating spider can have a leg span of 200mm

*the nelson cave spider is new zealands only protected species of spider, it is our largest spider in terms of leg span which can be up 2 15cms, the 1st 2 pairs of it legs can each bear a very long claw

*only female katipo spiders are capable of biting a person as the males fangs are 2 small. their bites are unpleasant and sometimes fatal. katipo is a maori name that means 'night-stinger'

So I will admit I still wont touch a spider or squash one the next time I see one but I definatley will remember that they are part of nature and only doing what they know.