Red Back Spider | Attenborough: Life in the Undergrowth | BBC Earth

Using amazing close-up footage, Sir David Attenborough explores the world of the red back spider.
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[@credd4216]

The Bolas spider, that's one of the most amazing things I've ever seen.

[@johndill9823]

Check out the bombider beetle if you think this spider was cool

[@92Jdmsupra]

@@johndill9823 Also the Iranian spider tailed viper .

[@Alejandro_87]

@@johndill9823 that beetle is really cool but it kinda makes more sense, if that in itself makes sense hahaha, than a fat butt spider that throws sticky spiderweb bolas at flying insects... it's literally using a tool that it created from it's own body.

[@wendellstamps]

The ogre faced spider is cool too! It actually makes a silk blanket/net and hovers over the ground and covers/catches bugs that walk under it :)

[@lilmaple1944]

it slapped dat h0e

[@dusanrenat5567]

The sentence "In Australia, there's a species of spider that ..." can end in literally any way possible and everyone would still believe it.

[@CallMeMimi27]

sir david: In Australia, there's a species of spider that can spit fire from its ass, shoot lasers out of their eyes, camouflage like the predator and can teleport two inches in any direction but only every two minutes.

[@shravp769]

It's called politician

[@CallMeMimi27]

@@shravp769 haha politics bad.

[@Swaggmire215]

Species of spider that delivers TV dinners on a wednesday Australia: yup we have those also😅

[@agentactivist]

ikr

[@dannyfrantsevich727]

The sfx team had a blast making those squishy sounds

[@Alejandro_87]

And the lasso-y sound when the spider would flick his/her bola

[@dscension]

Danny Frantsevich ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[@kallekallessons]

What sfx sounds? That's live captured audio.

[@yoronjo]

@@kallekallessons sfx

[@kallekallessons]

I know. Was a joke.

[@doomguy19931]

"You've yee'd yer last haw" -Bolas Spider

[@letticiadelgado9865]

Doomguy 🤠 😂😂😂

[@WatchingYou2ube]

Supernatural

[@strawberryfields9762]

Moth: *Cries in yeehaw*

[@lolky2934]

1, she was a haaw

[@seamustheirishwolfhound]

@@letticiadelgado9865 😂

[@PlasticFoods__]

"May I have this dance?....." -Bolas Spider

[@Te1978To]

😂😂

[@Mrjmaxted0291]

"She can produce a pheromone, a chemical perfume, that the moth finds irresistable" Moth: "Lämp?"

[@satriyoajiP]

so actually she just catch horny moths, really b**ch

[@Xevose]

no death

[@anonymous-on2xm]

If you think that is funny think of the males they probably flirting with bird sh1t half the day

[@Tom-xy9gb]

😂

[@YankeeFox]

Mrjmaxted0291 Lämp..

[@Lord_Shadowz]

The thing that wasn’t mentioned but actually visualized at the end of the video, the moth that that bolas spider actually specially hunts has its own defense mechanism against normal webs. It can get out of an orb weavers web for instance. The moths body is covered by these millions of little hairs that break off when it comes in contact with anything sticky. If you see the video when the bolas spider striker with her bolas you can see these hairs go everywhere. The bolas is so big and globular and sticky and used as it is it goes right through those hairs and the defense is useless for the moth for the bolas spider. It amazes me how nature adapts a protection and then adapts a way around that protection.

[@Gemini535]

There will only ever be one David Attenbough

[@JukesMcGee]

I've known about him ever since my dad showed me VHS tapes from his box set of "The Trials of Life", all of which were narrated by the one and only David Attenborough. Its a marvel that he is still alive at 94.

[@Moda-pf8wt]

@@JukesMcGee He's 94 now? What a legend...

[@PurplePoppyAnimator]

Ever since I was a child I have adored David Attenborough for many many reasons, but one the main reasons is that even when showing the viewer one of the most venomous spider species on the planet, his narrations do not induce fear and drama like so many other documentaries, that clearly try to scare the viewer through the all too common arachnophobia with manipulation and other dirty attention grabbing tactics. David is able to shed new and stunning light on even the most dangerous and feared animals in an interesting and fascinating way, showing us new-found respect and not fear for these creatures. Him and Steve Irwin are the sole reason that I keep both Reptiles, tarantulas and Venomous True Spiders like Redbacks, to this day, and I have so much to thank them for, showing me my love of these incredibly misunderstood animals. (Edit 2021) I beg of you, save your braincells, do not read these replies.

[@mr.chipwhitley8770]

This is a great post! I completely understand you. What will be do when Attenborough leaves us... Like Steve Irwin, he's irreplaceable

[@drunkbyu7515]

Purplepoppyanimator they r my two favorites to. but I love all conservationists. they have good hearts

[@AlfredTheBrave]

I dont get how people can watch that crocodile hunter show. all he ever does is find dangerous animals so that he can sneak up on them and jam his thumb up their butthole

[@PurplePoppyAnimator]

+Aden Kunz I do in fact, keep Redbacks actually. :) I keep many Widow species, Latrodectus Mactans, Hasselti and Geometricus. I also have a few Wandering Spiders and Chilean/Brown Recluse spiders. It's all about being a responsible and educated keeper.

[@starsfalldown1234567]

His voice is soothing. It's a great sleep aid. I just need to watch one of his videos on my phone and I fall asleep.

[@supremeetnel7707]

That beautiful twirl in mid air was breathtaking. 👏🏽👏🏽 10 for me just beautiful

[@User-je7gf]

Youre breathtaking

[@Andreas-pj6np]

@@User-je7gf damn i wanted to say it

[@milto2011tito]

@@Andreas-pj6np damn i wanted to say " damn i wanted to say it "

[@Andreas-pj6np]

@@milto2011tito damn i wanted to say it-ception

[@tgmtf5963]

@@User-je7gf no, you're breathtaking

[@ST0AT]

Red Back: intricately weaved three-dimensional trap with no escape, where the more the prey wiggles, the quicker it's gonna die Bolas: *YEET*

[@christianross-smith7404]

I’m honestly deathly afraid of spiders but I gotta say I really respect them. This stuff is amazing

[@johnmellan1732]

Who knew a spider enjoyed fishing

[@DoomSprite236]

"In Austrailia..." Ooh boy.

[@generalerica4123]

Not going there anytime soon...

[@ReinventingTheSteve]

Red backs are tiny... if they bite ya u just get sick for a day or 2 and have an itchy bitewound... they're great at keeping mosquitos/ flies under control !

[@-splinter-3422]

Reinventing the Steve they can kill you....

[@ReinventingTheSteve]

@@-splinter-3422 yeah only if you're a baby, really old, sick or perceptible. No worries for 90% of us 😂. Hasn't been a death from a redback since the 70s.

[@paulgally1657]

@@ReinventingTheSteve They are docile mostly but a friend got bit and he said it was very painful. Would be few homes in Australia where you wouldn't find some.

[@zanesmith666]

I like how they added the spinning and hitting sound effects lol

[@michaelcohen9363]

They did.

[@inflamespwn]

@@michaelcohen9363 no that is actually the sound they make when you zoom in with the camera that close. You see, when you zoom in, things get louder.

[@michaelcohen9363]

@@inflamespwn The sound is added post-production.

[@bargery2]

The elegance, the ingenuity, the pure passion... this spider’s got it all!

[@sapphirejade5029]

They do say in some terms of symbolism that the spider is known for its intelligence.🤔😁 Can't help myself! I'm a writer and nature is truly a wonderful piece of inspiration for such amazing books.😉😁

[@spartansEXTEEL]

It's amazing how these tiny creatures actually seem to have an acute understanding of time and space.

[@p.a2073]

of course they do, goes for all living things, even plants.

[@deusvult8251]

they dont they are just programmed by GOD through DNA like how we have AI

[@C4rol5791]

@@deusvult8251 how do you know they are programmed by God?

[@advocatusconciliumtantrino3126]

@@p.a2073 but... throwing a sticky ball of silk to the prey and catch it??? its amazing understanding of time and space in 3 dimensions...

[@Fossilized-cryptid]

@@advocatusconciliumtantrino3126 it is indeed amazing

[@steelernation1989]

The Bolas spider is like a wee spider cowboy.

[@Galejro]

That would be gladiator spider or velvet worm, Bolas spider resembles to me a medieval knight using a flail.

[@bkjeong4302]

+Galejro All of those are like gladiators with nets and rope....

[@netweed09]

She's fat too, needs a workout sometime

[@petetong9725]

Cowgirl.....

[@SomeoneCommenting]

That second spider is just incredible with its technique. Try to imagine how evolution came to that point. How the heck the very first spider just decided to even attempt something as specific as that, combined with the fact that it also had to modify its body to produce the pheromones of _each_ of its prey...

[@ShortFuseFighting]

you seem to have a slightly misguided view of how evolution actually works...

[@chriswatson7965]

The production of the pheromones appears to have arisen first in orb weavers. Then there was a loss of production of an orb web, followed by using a web to catch the moths dynamically.

[@justwest871]

Evolution is a metaphysical theory not biology. Getting closer though

[@chriswatson7965]

@@justwest871 Care to substantiate that claim?

[@GoldSrc_]

@@chriswatson7965 He doesn't care, he's just another moron who doesn't understand biology or how evolution works.

[@avariceseven9443]

Abandoned its disguise....still looks like bird dropping to me.

[@mawjigglephysics]

Haha, I was only pretending to be ugly. Baited.

[@ajayk8734]

you should have been a moth

[@NuisanceMan]

Looks more like an onion to me.

[@me2525]

I literally thought it was going to leave the white blob behind when he said that...

[@juliemonarch7364]

Abandoned it's disguise...and moves, thereby abandoning the notion... it's not poop.

[@houhoutae832]

The way that bolas spider hunt is just poetic. Sobhan Alah 💜💜

[@orsonkaart1853]

If I didnt have the chance to see the bolas spider in action, Id find it hard to believe anyone who told me about it! Incredible stuff!

[@StinkyMink]

Makes me feel worthless that these little spiders doing more impressive things than ill ever do

[@chocolateex1907]

you will never poop out sticky webs and catch insects, why even live?

[@DAN420.]

Nothing is stopping you getting some rope and doing the same to cats etc..

[@Oprey22]

At least your wife/girlfriend won't eat you after sex.

[@nairekab4802]

@@Oprey22 They only go for one essential part of your being. The Wallet.

[@IIIIIIIIIIIIIIPKIIIIIIIIIIIIII]

@@DAN420. legendary comment

[@charlenehastings4840]

David Attenborough is a treasure. I love watching all his nature videos.

[@duncanwallace7760]

There seem to be almost infinite amazing things to learn about in Nature, many of them still undiscovered.

[@jasonh.8754]

There are thousands of species of insects and plants that have barely been researched.

[@elbowtko]

"In North America, I reckon we got cowboy spiders"

[@theguywhodrawsalot7554]

Spiders with guns

[@_V.Va_]

@@theguywhodrawsalot7554 And 10 gallon hats.

[@ltdowney]

“In Australia, there’s a species of spider...” OK, now I know what I’m in for. 👀

[@jamesspencer6832]

This is insanely interesting. the shots they get and the angles at witch they are is amazing.

[@amosmaka6030]

"In Australia......." Me: "Why doesn't that surprise me...." 😂

[@kristyhawes]

Yep I'm in Australia

[@BullRed07]

@@kristyhawes I'm Australia

[@PistolSovereign]

australia used to be deadly land where europeans send criminals there as punishment

[@retrynot12]

Bruh theres like a whole city of redbacks in my garage.

[@oneeyedphotographer]

I am in Australia. We have redbacks in the backyard. Probably frontyard too. They're venomous, yes, but not dangerous unless you're a small child, and it's decades since one killed anyone. I didn't know they make webs like that, they're usually hiding outside in dark corners.

[@TTOS69]

That was absolutely amazing. God bless Sir Attenborough

[@BeCool-ec5gj]

He walked into some randoms house and started filming. What a legend.

[@dynamitedingo8183]

actually that's my house, and his production team came and asked permission. We made dinner for the whole crew.

[@JB-nj7nq]

@@dynamitedingo8183 what'd y'all have for dinner? 😂🐮

[@superhead1399]

umm huh? Ants and moths

[@bobfttw]

Moth: Sup dude. Bolas Spider: GET OVER HERE!

[@Cyrax4d]

Tyrone Taylor blood 🩸 FATALITY 🩸

[@davidvasquez08]

*FLAWLESS VICTORY*

[@Jenny-zi7qj]

😥😢😢😢😨😨

[@Jenny-zi7qj]

Bffg

[@gregorbarrett6246]

David Attenboroughs voice is like BUTTER to my ears!!

[@HeyWheresKel]

When I saw the spider holding that globule thread like a weapon I thought it was undoubtedly the coolest thing I've ever seen a spider do.

[@johniguess4287]

Tiny wrecking ball cowboy bird poo spiders... We are all doomed.

[@netweed09]

bird-poo DISGUISED spiders

[@0Raik]

When they start using woman's perfume we're f*ed

[@Necroionutwiz]

Yee Haw its a cowboy spider

[@vanessadoucette5123]

This is hilarious.

[@erikvazquez6079]

johniguess I bet this spider listens to old time row

[@paigetato3259]

This kinda got rid of my arachnophobia. His voice was so calm I didn’t even realise. I could listen to it for days. .-.

[@RG-ja34sep]

These spiders are marvels of natural engineering, so brilliantly presented by a man who is without doubt a global treasure! Absolutely love Sir David Attenborough.

[@jasonh.8754]

Bot.

[@JoeMcKnz]

“I swear that bird poo just tried to lasso me?” - Moth.

[@Sentinel_White]

"next time on BBC Earth. this spider doesn't build in 3D it builds in *4D* and it can even buy you in the future and in the past"

[@hzzx0739]

Damn, i didnt know spiders took part in human trafficking.

[@Nvilla22]

I could hear this sir talk for days! God bless David🙏🏼

[@Nothing-dr4ru]

5:16 that swing

[@tinabintbina1103]

I like so much how Mr. Attenborough shows us his fascination about all those creatures in the world even when they are dangerous or frighten people. In Egypt there is a spider that also builds three-dimensional webs that are so sticky and strong we nearly can't destroy it. And when the spider builds it in a tree I get the impression this part of tree dies because all leaves dry up and fall.

[@77shreyas]

Bolas spider's hunting skill is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen.

[@SauvvyB]

5:18 The little sound effect that went along with the spider throwing his little lasso was *Amazing*

[@btstae4139]

Sir David Attenborough surely has a great future ahead with such splendid documentaries

[@glenny7862]

He's 96

[@neflesward2727]

Spiders are truly magnificent creatures! I could listen to Mr Attenborough voice all day

[@Alex.P1]

Attenborough is perfection in motion. Nobody else comes close to his delivery.

[@leonsky419]

“In Australia...” Mom...I’m scared

[@TheGaragelifter]

It's Mum in Australian

[@thatsnotme5777]

Woww that was too Amazing 😀. I also have to admit that I love Sir David Attenborough. The Best Narrator In The Universe period...

[@greatoak7661]

Sir David Attenborough is simply the best!!!

[@leechmiller1072]

Spiders are such clever little creatures.

[@d1n0alg75]

Attenborough is a man that must have neverending respect and adoration.

[@Serasia]

That's why I feel really bad when I walk into spiderwebs. But they just make them again like nothing happened. Also, it's creatures like that bolas spider that make me wonder if we'd ever have created certain weapons without observing nature, though I realize the human created bolas weapon probably came first. It's still amazing though.

[@danielhodge809]

I really like David Attenborough i find him really interesting, and i also find his documentary programs really interesting, he is my best documentary reporter out of all of them, he is also the most famous and popular documentary reporter in the world and i am not surprised because he is really good.

[@Anon-ek3ck]

I had red backs living in the top corners of my room, they’re pretty chill.

[@theworthysoul]

Bolas Spiders are impressive. How they hunt and camouflage is just clever!

[@mjamal6694]

Amazing is my Lord how he provides for his creation

[@bellabana]

It has nothing to do with ‘a pretend man in the sky’ at all but in fact evolution over millions of years.

[@mjamal6694]

@@bellabana I totally agree amazing evolution over millions of years and not a Man in the sky 🙄 everything has a origin more like a creator that you and I can't fathom✌️

[@nachos2131]

OMG she's a dancer!

[@harm3825]

Gets recommended, more than ten years later 😂

[@lezzman]

Yeah, but you have to admit, ten years later and it's still amazing.

[@bstlybengali]

stunning to see how many amazing things happen on a scale this small

[@adrielmarasigan8500]

I always get a feeling that a spider is on me somewhere everytime I watch videos like this.

[@haoxinchao7479]

Doesn't the second spider look like it's dancing with the moth when it wraps the moth?

[@Zaxares]

The piano music certainly reinforced that impression. XD

[@alejandromendez488]

There in a duet

[@onceaguard810]

A duet of death with a fatal embrance and a final kiss.

[@HenryMcGuinnessGuitar]

With Sir David there is usually a "but most extraordinary of all..." moment

[@themarushin]

the final dance of the Bolas is just beautyful. That classical piece make this so artistic.

[@susanac1214]

im arachnofobic. But this video is art. Loved the second spider part. The music when the spider is turning with the prey, i don't know, it was magic, i wasn't even feeling fear!

[@jasonantigua6825]

Please question yourself

[@OurEyesAreYetToOpen]

AND IT MOVES US ALL

[@gerrynightingale9045]

*I have a fear of people who refuse to download the free 'app' of 'Spell-Check'*

[@NxDoyle]

I'm generally not fussed by spiders. I'm also grateful to them for helping reduce the number of flies and mosquitos. The redback is an exception, mainly because they seem to turn up in those places where hands go but eyes generally don't.

[@affenket]

Caution in unseen spaces is drilled into children in Australia. Always check shoes left outside, never go sticking your hand under something in the garage etc.

[@Dirtbag-Hyena]

@@affenket Texas. Scorpions & Rattlesnakes. We do the same.

[@jasonh.8754]

Yep. Wood piles, sheets of roofing iron on the ground, anywhere accessible for them out of the rain.

[@samantapalomino8266]

The sound is fantastic.

[@SamiKrasniqi]

You sir can describe paint being dried and it still would be remarkable, you are a real treasure, I love watching you all the time .

[@korbindallas8224]

Nobody else comes close!

[@DarkMiss]

Nature is truly amazing!

[@meezi8536]

Spider Brigitte, OP as hell.

[@SuperDurv]

I could watch this all day

[@wekpomsbenin6830]

Attenborough is a legend with the acute 'third' eye. He's beyond human!!!

[@theguywhodrawsalot7554]

2:25 “Don’t worry guys, we’ve got plenty of time to esca-“

[@ReinventingTheSteve]

😂😂😂

[@davidvasquez08]

What was tha-!!!!!!

[@johnh8615]

My first fish tank as a 5 year old kid was used to hold red backs..... loved feeding them 😍

[@joelchristian6400]

Makes me keep watching more of these videos.

[@chrissy7715]

Love David Attenborough he's great

[@azteraw4121]

Imagine hanging out with your ant homies and all of a sudden be like you all get stuck in webs.

[@Dronkey64]

I really love the narrator! his voice is cool. 🤗 he should teach people about animals at the zoo too!

[@sooodarncrazy4817]

He is the great Sir David Attenborough

[@barbarianlife]

@@sooodarncrazy4817 Greatest narrator of all time.

[@andybao1300]

How ROMANTIC that scene with the spider and the moth spinning on the web with all the beautiful piano music.

[@EllyinAdelaide]

When my son was a toddler he was playing in his sandpit and walked into the kitchen to show me a red back spider he had found. Thankfully it had not bitten his hand!

[@leokimvideo]

Amazing, I bet you don't get shafted by Google as I do by showing these beautiful spiders

[@mayasamantha4014]

leokimvideo hi leo🙋🏽‍♀️

[@itskaratemaster]

leokimvideo AY ITS LEO

[@Snap-Time]

I'm watching this video because of your recent recommendation. Thanks!

[@Spiderific]

The difference is he shows them living their lives in an educational way.. You kill them with flames for views. 🙄

[@TheRebornRJ]

GOODNIGHT SISTAH!

[@allegri9cl]

Masterpiece.... only only Sir Attenborough

[@akiosidaniel2392]

I'm grateful to be alive to see this remarkable video.

[@jacquesjacobs6871]

Nature is bind blowing and sir David is my favourite human.

[@OfTheiAm]

Most amazing thing in all of creation I swear, the mere fact that these creatures have this much intelligence exceeds mere instincts I've been watching all of these different creatures exhibit so much amazing feats I feel like i've been dropped in a parallel universe where creatures are just as smart as humans, I mean the way she pulled out her web looked like human arms pulling at string. How awesome is it we get to see all that is out there just from the internet!

[@Fossilized-cryptid]

It doesn't have anything do to with intelligence, intelligence as we scientists define it has to do with more cortical matter

[@comments.are.turned.off...]

The World: "Here we have a spider..." Australia: "THAT'S not a spider! THIS... is.... a spider!!!"

[@iLuSi0nS]

13 years on and this guy is still the best man of all time!

[@ongthanhdi8220]

The spinning is so beautiful

[@scronix2617]

I simply don’t understand how anyone can believe this spider with its sophisticated techniques ‘evolved’ all by itself. Absurd. Simply absurd. Wonderful video.

[@zen41mj]

the second spider basically describes me. "motionless throughout the day but when evening comes, she prepares for action."

[@robertmarshalljr3750]

The single most incredible footage I've ever seen

[@spinosaurus9518]

wow! shes smart shes using her legs and uses it to web it up without in the stinger or the jaws range what a clever spider!

[@AnAverageJoesChannel]

How does a spider learn to use such interesting techniques?

[@lmeza1983]

Just like people learn to question things I guess.

[@Apple-mg6jr]

It uses genetic memory which is a very inefficient way of storing data as it takes 100s of thousands of years to learn something new where as a brain can learn something new instantaneously an example of genetic memory in humans would be smiling, no one teaches you how to smile you’re just born being able to just like the way lambs are born with the ability to walk

[@johnsheldon7716]

Web design school

[@kartoffelstranger9187]

probably on spidertube. tons of tutorials

[@vinceallenmeneses5883]

that spider throws its web like a cowboy throwing a rope plus with sound effect. 😂

[@user-ix6fb4lj9m]

so beautiful and majestic

[@CT-nb5lm]

Sir David Attenborough we love you dude.. a treasure for sure....

[@tim8265]

I really would like to know how the BBC Team is filming that.

[@Memington]

HOLY SHIT SPIDERS ARE COOL

[@mraa4950]

Sir Attenborough & BBC = extraordinary

[@C7007]

Look at them dancing. Spiders are wonderful.

[@FatalTaco]

Great now we have cowboy spiders