What If Spiders Were the Size of Humans?
WouterSpiders are nocturnal, mostly feeding on insects. They have eight legs and sharp fangs. Their webs are bullet-proof and strong. They are often found in bathrooms and bedroom. Despite their venomous nature, most are not harmful to touch. They are extremely common.
Approximately 45,000 different species of spiders exist on Earth. These creatures consume 400 million to 800 million tons of prey annually. Their voraciousness means less pests and mosquitoes in your yard.
These animals have a unique intelligence and are able to respond quickly to vibrations. They can react to changes in the environment and plan strategic detours to trick their prey. Some spiders even use their webs to think. Some of these spiders can live for decades. Some are so big that they can produce ultrasonic bat-like sounds.
However, they are also very small. If spiders were the size of humans, they would weigh about 863 pounds. They would be 3.1 meters tall. This is much larger than modern-day reptiles.
There are several reasons why these creatures are so large. They cannot live on a planet with less gravity. They need a more powerful respiratory system. Their hair bonds are 173 times stronger than a human’s. This allows them to exploit the van der Waals forces.
Some species of spiders can eat birds and humans. This makes them dangerous. Other species, such as harvestmen, have holes in their side for respiration. They are believed to be derived from book lungs.
