Giant Cave Spiders??

[baboons24]

Are there any large cave-dwelling spiders other than the Tazmanian Cave Dwelling spiders (Hickmania Troglodytes). A few years ago I heard a rumor of some gigantic cave spiders in some southern country which were supposedly so big that locals ate them for dinner??!! Is there any such thing that anyone has heard of?

 

[critterz]

I have personally seen a species in the south that makes a small web in a depression in a rock wall that was of considerable size, but not nearly large enough to eat. The legspan was about 4", but like the Tazmanian cave spider was very leggy, and at first glance appered just to be the exo of the spider. It wasn't until I blew on the thing that it moved and I realized what I was looking at. I believe my dad said they were a netweb spider (not that he's an expert or anything). They were very cool to see, however, and any additional information (esp. pics) would be greatly appreciated.

 

[edesign]

there is a species of tarantula in South America, i forget which country exactly, that lives exclusively in caves and has done so for so many millenia that it no longer has eyes...looked to be of decent size, 6"+

 

[knightjar]

There was a Rick West documentary in which he was hunting a cave-dwelling tarantula species. Pretty sure it was in Venezuela.

 

[Tony]

Rick's cave spider WAS spelopelma, I think it's changed. Still it can be found by google with this name. I guess it's the only Theraphosid that lives deep in caves, of course there are alot of other spider that live there....
T

 

[Elytra and Antenna]

Are there any large cave-dwelling spiders other than the Tazmanian Cave Dwelling spiders (Hickmania Troglodytes). A few years ago I heard a rumor of some gigantic cave spiders in some southern country which were supposedly so big that locals ate them for dinner??!! Is there any such thing that anyone has heard of?

Usually when you hear the term 'cave spider' it's a reference to the amblypigids. You're rumor could be about amblypigids which might be somewhat tasty according to the fear factor show.