WE HOPE NOBODY TELLS NO. 17

Farewell, No. 16: scientists left 'miserable' after world's oldest spider dies aged 43

Guess the continent.

(Thanks to Bill Hudgins, Pumpkin, DaninDallas, Rob Simbeck, coscolo, elseabs, Al Barkafski, Michael Parry, Jim Kenaston and Le Petomane)

Comments

[Slim Chance]

"The arachnid is believed to have survived for so long by sticking to one protected burrow its entire life and expending the minimum of energy."

Behavior copied by Millennials.

[Clankie]

I guess they don't have rolled up newspapers down there.

[fractalist]

Affectionately known as “Number 16”, the female Giaus Villosus or trapdoor spider had been under observation in the wild since its birth in 1974.

Maybe #16 noticed she was under surveillance, and lost the will to live.

Ms Mason said of the Number 16’s death: “We’re really miserable about it.
“We were hoping she could have made it to 50 years old.”

Apparently someone else won the office pool.

[nursecindy]

They didn't know she was dead until they saw a new scientist looking at the bottom of his shoe.

[Le Petomane]

In breaking news scientists are now claiming Number 16's demise was caused by an attack from a parasitic wasp. Ms. Mason apparently was so miserable over losing her beloved venomous spider to a parasitic wasp to notice she had stepped on a venomous scorpion, hence the delay in reporting.
The update was further delayed when the station manager and his sister covering the story were attacked by a pack of venomous duckbill platypuses on their way to the station. The station manager's sister was not, however, bitten by a moose that accompanied the platypuses, which was a stroke of luck since in Australia most moose are venomous.

[Jim]

So can all of us who forwarded this to Dave get to serve as honorary pallbearers?

[funny man]

Prima facie proof once again that scientists have way too much time on their hands.

A typical danger in Australia is homeowners finding what they believe to be dead spiders in their swimming pools, which can then rear up and attack when removed.

[funny man]

Guess who taught them how top "play dead'...

[Mikey123]

New Scientist entering lab: EEEK A spider! SQUISH!

[manual tomato]

I was a little sad when my Ant died.

[Mindforb]

Freddy climbed out of the light switch just as. I. Was. Using it. He lives close by outside