Published: Wednesday, 28th July, 2010 9:30am

Deadly spider bares its teeth at Deep Sea World

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A lethal tarantula renowned for its rapid movement and aggressive behaviour has gone on display at Deep Sea World in North Queensferry.

The venomous cobalt blue tarantula, from the tropical rainforests of Thailand, can grow up to 15cms in length and is one of the most dangerous species of tarantula in the world.

The tarantula is the newest addition to the aquarium's JAWS feature, which showcases the biting power of creatures from around the world.

Deep Sea World's Paul Francis said, "This particular spider is often described as the most beautiful but also one of the most dangerous species of tarantula in the world.

"It gets its name from the iridescent blue markings on its legs which, when they catch the light, are really extraordinary.

"Unlike New World species of tarantula, they do not have the ability to shed hairs, which irritate would-be predators, and therefore rely much more on a painful bite as a defence mechanism."

Although the spiders spin giant webs they spend most of their time in silk-lined underground burrows, where they wait for passing prey, such as insects or even rodents.

Paul added, "They are renowned for their aggressive nature and will rear up onto their back legs just prior to striking.

"This, combined with the fact that they are so fast, makes them a potentially dangerous species to humans - although records of actual attacks are relatively rare."