World's oldest known spider dies aged 43 in Australia
Australian researchers have discovered that a 43-year-old trapdoor spider, which recently died  had outlived the previous world record holder, a 28-year old tarantula found in Mexico. The research project was initiated by Barbara York Main in 1974, who monitored the long-term spider population for over 42 years in a region of Western Australia, said Curtin University researcher Leanda Mason.