Huntsman Spider Devours Entire Possum In Front Of Horrified Husband And Wife In Tasmania

A gigantic huntsman spider that devoured a whole possum has left many social media users trembling with fear.

Australia has always been low on my list of places to visit, not because it isn't a beautiful, sunny paradise, but due to my overwhelming fear of spiders and insects.

The recent discovery by one couple has only deepened my resolve to stay away

If you're scared of spiders, you might want to skip this part.

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Justine Latton from Tasmania posted in the Facebook Group 'Tasmanian Insects and Spiders' — and yes, such a group really exists.

She shared several photos that her husband, Adam, took of a massive huntsman spider eating an entire possum.

According to the Australian Museum, Australian Huntsman spiders usually measure about two centimeters (0.7 inches) in body length for females and 1.6cm (0.6 inches) for males.

Impressively, they boast a leg span of up to 15cm (5.9 inches).

In a 2019 interview with ABC, Justine mentioned that the possum was likely a pygmy possum.

According to Bush Heritage Australia, pygmy possums can vary in size, ranging from "12cm (4.7 inches) 'from head to tail' or as small as five centimeters (1.9 inches)."

Their weight falls between 10g (0.35 ounces) and 50g (1.76 ounces).

Bye bye possum Facebook / Justine Latton

Despite the size of the possum, witnessing such a scene is definitely not on my wish list. 

However, Justine noted that Adam and his friend, who was with him at the time, remained surprisingly calm throughout the encounter.

For those with a fear of spiders looking to steer clear, or spider enthusiasts eager for a glimpse of where some of the larger specimens are found, the photos were taken at Mount Field Lodge.

Justine recounted that Adam and his friend Roger were fixing a door at the ski lodge when the spider made its appearance. 

"He just goes, 'Roger, don't freak out but just look above your head,'" she recalled, "And it was about 20-30 centimeters [7.8 - 11.8 inches] above him."

Roger, now dubbed the 'bravest spider man in the world,' managed to contain the spider in an ice cream container and safely released it back into the wild.

The reactions on social media varied significantly.

The spider was released back into the wild, the possum, however, didn't quite make it Facebook / Justine Latton

One X user exclaimed: "Sod that. Nothing needs eight legs."

Another simply stated: "Oh no way."

A third shared: "Me: I saw a pic of a huntsman spider eating a possum & I will never sleep again. 

@veryheathmiller, an intellectual: *googles* Eh. That's a pygmy possum it's only like this big *holds fingers a FAT gerbil length apart*

Me: You have never been more Australian than in this moment."