Stowaway African huntsman spider found in Edinburgh suitcase

A ample African huntsman spider has been recovered successful Edinburgh, aft it stowed distant successful a traveller's suitcase.

The Scottish SPCA has quarantined the 10cm spider, which was discovered astatine a spot successful the city's Boswall Drive.

The carnal foundation said the nonmigratory had precocious returned from a enactment placement successful Africa.

Huntsman spiders are recovered successful lukewarm and tropical regions including Africa, Asia and Australia. The traveller managed to seizure it successful a integrative box.

Scottish SPCA carnal rescue serviceman Catherine Atterton said the spider was "very fast".

She said: "Huntsman spiders are known for their velocity and their quality to jump, truthful I was gladsome the subordinate of the nationalist had managed to incorporate the spider.

"Thankfully the spider was nary the worse for deterioration aft their agelong travel and was taken to 1 of our carnal rescue and rehoming centres to quarantine.

"We've been liaising with our contacts and person a location down successful Kent lined up with a specialist, wherever this huntsman tin happily unrecorded retired the remainder of their life."

Huntsman spiders are known for their velocity and are considered to beryllium the world's largest spider by limb span. They tin scope astir 28cm erstwhile afloat grown.

Despite possessing venom, they are reluctant to wound and are not considered unsafe to humans.