Comments on: Three New Scorpion Species Discovered http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/3-scorpions/ for Bigfoot, Loch Ness, and More Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:06:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: DWA http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/3-scorpions/comment-page-1/#comment-48543 DWA Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:23:24 +0000 http://www.cryptomundo.com/?p=6776#comment-48543 m_m: I'm pretty sure if bumblebees can fly, it was possible to explain how. Not saying I read the paper or anything. But yep, I'm sure it's out there. It was just irresistable in context. I'm sure a rifle could stop the biggest spider, anyway. OK, not sure, but pretty confident. :-D m_m: I’m pretty sure if bumblebees can fly, it was possible to explain how. Not saying I read the paper or anything. But yep, I’m sure it’s out there.

It was just irresistable in context.

I’m sure a rifle could stop the biggest spider, anyway.

OK, not sure, but pretty confident. :-D

]]> By: mystery_man http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/3-scorpions/comment-page-1/#comment-48542 mystery_man Tue, 28 Oct 2008 23:13:33 +0000 http://www.cryptomundo.com/?p=6776#comment-48542 DWA- By the way, it has been described how bumblebees are able to fly. The assertion that it has never been explained is a myth. You might know that, but I thought I'd throw that in there. DWA- By the way, it has been described how bumblebees are able to fly. The assertion that it has never been explained is a myth. You might know that, but I thought I’d throw that in there.

]]> By: mystery_man http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/3-scorpions/comment-page-1/#comment-48541 mystery_man Tue, 28 Oct 2008 22:59:22 +0000 http://www.cryptomundo.com/?p=6776#comment-48541 DWA and Red_pill_junky - You know, I think I gave myself nightmares with that image as well. :) But fear not, like I said terrestrial arthropods are limited in size by physiology and physics. One things is that the respiratory systems found in arthropods are not well designed for larger sizes. The prehistoric ones that grew to such huge sizes were able to do so in part because of the different oxygen levels at the time. Another limitation is what makes an arthropod and arthropod, namely their exoskeleton. As an insect, spider, or scorpion gets larger, their exoskeleton of course gets bigger and heavier. The problem is that muscular strength is a factor of the diameter of the muscle at its thickest point. When larger sizes are attained is you have the exoskeleton growing in three dimensions and the muscle effectively only growing in two. At a certain point, the arthropod will simply become too heavy to move its own exoskeleton. The muscles would burst from the shell before getting strong enough to haul the extra weight. Marine arthropods can get much larger because the water helps to support the weight of their shell. So dog sized spiders are doubtful. But dinner plate sized spiders with leg spans up to 30 cm, as well as scorpions of comparable length exist and slightly larger ones might be possible. (sorry red_pill. :) ) DWA and Red_pill_junky – You know, I think I gave myself nightmares with that image as well. :) But fear not, like I said terrestrial arthropods are limited in size by physiology and physics.

One things is that the respiratory systems found in arthropods are not well designed for larger sizes. The prehistoric ones that grew to such huge sizes were able to do so in part because of the different oxygen levels at the time. Another limitation is what makes an arthropod and arthropod, namely their exoskeleton. As an insect, spider, or scorpion gets larger, their exoskeleton of course gets bigger and heavier. The problem is that muscular strength is a factor of the diameter of the muscle at its thickest point. When larger sizes are attained is you have the exoskeleton growing in three dimensions and the muscle effectively only growing in two. At a certain point, the arthropod will simply become too heavy to move its own exoskeleton. The muscles would burst from the shell before getting strong enough to haul the extra weight. Marine arthropods can get much larger because the water helps to support the weight of their shell.

So dog sized spiders are doubtful. But dinner plate sized spiders with leg spans up to 30 cm, as well as scorpions of comparable length exist and slightly larger ones might be possible. (sorry red_pill. :) )

]]> By: red_pill_junkie http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/3-scorpions/comment-page-1/#comment-48533 red_pill_junkie Tue, 28 Oct 2008 17:23:24 +0000 http://www.cryptomundo.com/?p=6776#comment-48533 Yes DWA, I know of the physical limits for the size of arthropods. But in my dreams, those critters can grow to ANY size! ;-) Yes DWA, I know of the physical limits for the size of arthropods.

But in my dreams, those critters can grow to ANY size! ;-)

]]> By: DWA http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/3-scorpions/comment-page-1/#comment-48531 DWA Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:56:30 +0000 http://www.cryptomundo.com/?p=6776#comment-48531 red_pill_junkie: Not to worry. You can go with mystery_man here. Acceptance of theoretical limits such as the ones he speaks of is really the foundation of much of Krantz's and Meldrum's theorizing on sasquatch locomotor adaptations - theories that appear well supported by evidence. And of course as we all know: 1) the sasquatch is real; and 2) bumblebees can't fly. :-D red_pill_junkie:

Not to worry. You can go with mystery_man here.

Acceptance of theoretical limits such as the ones he speaks of is really the foundation of much of Krantz’s and Meldrum’s theorizing on sasquatch locomotor adaptations – theories that appear well supported by evidence. And of course as we all know:

1) the sasquatch is real; and
2) bumblebees can’t fly.

:-D

]]> By: traveler http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/3-scorpions/comment-page-1/#comment-48527 traveler Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:22:36 +0000 http://www.cryptomundo.com/?p=6776#comment-48527 Good to hear some good news coming from back home. That one scorpion was found in the same area I lived in. Cool!! Good to hear some good news coming from back home. That one scorpion was found in the same area I lived in. Cool!!

]]> By: red_pill_junkie http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/3-scorpions/comment-page-1/#comment-48525 red_pill_junkie Mon, 27 Oct 2008 22:02:49 +0000 http://www.cryptomundo.com/?p=6776#comment-48525 Spiders the size of dogs... Thanks a lot mystery_man! Now my electric bill is gonna go up, because NO WAY I'm sleeping tonight with the lights out. Not with that mental image you just concocted on my impressionable brain o_O Spiders the size of dogs…

Thanks a lot mystery_man! Now my electric bill is gonna go up, because NO WAY I’m sleeping tonight with the lights out. Not with that mental image you just concocted on my impressionable brain o_O

]]> By: Dj Plasmic Nebula http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/3-scorpions/comment-page-1/#comment-48523 Dj Plasmic Nebula Mon, 27 Oct 2008 21:08:59 +0000 http://www.cryptomundo.com/?p=6776#comment-48523 awesome. :) more scorpians discovered.... hope to see a much larger one though like the size of a german shepard awesome. :) more scorpians discovered….

hope to see a much larger one though like the size of a german shepard

]]> By: mystery_man http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/3-scorpions/comment-page-1/#comment-48514 mystery_man Mon, 27 Oct 2008 06:40:50 +0000 http://www.cryptomundo.com/?p=6776#comment-48514 Interesting to see these small scorpions discovered in South America, which is also home to the largest known species of arachnids, such as the goliath bird eating spider (<em>Theraphosa blondi</em>), as well as other comparably huge ones like the Chaco golden knee and Brazillian salmon pink spiders. South America is also the source of reports of truly gargantuan arachnids like spiders which are reported to be the size of dogs. I highly doubt these reports, simply because of the physiological restrictions and physics involved limit the size of terrestrial arthropods, but it is still interesting to speculate on what else might be out there to be found, hopefully not under one's pillow or scurrying across the floor of the house. Interesting to see these small scorpions discovered in South America, which is also home to the largest known species of arachnids, such as the goliath bird eating spider (Theraphosa blondi), as well as other comparably huge ones like the Chaco golden knee and Brazillian salmon pink spiders. South America is also the source of reports of truly gargantuan arachnids like spiders which are reported to be the size of dogs. I highly doubt these reports, simply because of the physiological restrictions and physics involved limit the size of terrestrial arthropods, but it is still interesting to speculate on what else might be out there to be found, hopefully not under one’s pillow or scurrying across the floor of the house.

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