Script 5
Boyd Matson:
“The biggest spiders in the world are the aptly named ‘goliath’ tarantulas. Most people would run the other way if they saw a spider that was this big. But one intrepid researcher makes it his business to track them down and catch them.”
Narrator:
For many, tarantulas inspire fear. But for tarantula expert Rick West, they just inspire. West says these skilled hunters, which live mostly on insects, but may eat larger animals like mice and birds, are misunderstood.
Rick West:
“They’ve been maligned in horror movies. These are the things that as we’ve come up through our years watching television, science fiction movies, it’s always the thing that creeps out of the shadow and goes for the jugular. And it does; it creeps people out and gives them the wrong impression.”
Narrator:
Rick has come to French Guiana in search of the largest spider in the world—the “goliath.” It can grow to nearly thirty centimeters across, with large sharp teeth called fangs which can be five centimeters long.
But the fangs aren’t the tarantula’s only weapons. Its abdomen is covered with small hairs. The spider can shed these quickly if it is threatened. The hairs can stick to your skin or go inside your nose and cause painful irritation.
For Rick, it’s best to look for spiders in the dark. Most tarantulas live underground and come out to hunt at night. And suddenly, right at his feet … a giant.
Rick West:
“This is a beautiful female. She is a monster. This is Theraphosa blondi. It’s the world’s largest tarantula and world’s largest spider. She’s gotta have a legspan of about 10 inches across. Just have to slow her down here. Unless you really do something to injure it or to scare it, they’ll just walk on you.”
Narrator:
Rick isn’t afraid to have a giant tarantula on his shoulder, but he is careful about its irritating hairs, so he lets the spider climb down his arm and onto the ground again.
For tiny creatures, this spider is truly a threat. But for most humans, a tarantula’s bite is no worse than a bee sting. West hopes that as he teaches the world more about these creatures, fear will turn into fascination.
[释义]“世界上最大的蜘蛛是名字很贴切的‘歌利亚（巨人）’狼蛛
