- “No Spider is really as big as these guys. But the biggest Spider on the planet, the Goliath tarantula, does grow to be the size of a dinner plate. That would make you scream too! Most Spiders are poisonous, but only a few have enough venom to actually harm people. See those two things next to the Spider's mouth? They’re used to grab the Spider's prey while the Spider bites in. As they do, they inject their prey with venom that turns the tissue of the prey into a liquid. The liquid gets sucked into the Spider's stomach like soup. I guess Alan doesn’t wanna become Spider soup...”
- —[1]
Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other orders of organisms. In the jungles of "JUMANJI", several species of Spiders exist as terrifying powerful predators.
Behaviour
Spiders are natural hunters that prefer to quickly and effortlessly dispose of prey rather than suffer unnecessary injuries. Almost all known Spider species are predators, mostly preying on insects and on other spiders, although a few species also take vertebrates such as frogs, lizards, fish, and even birds and bats. Spiders' guts are too narrow to take solids, and they liquidize their food by flooding it with digestive enzymes and grinding it with the bases of their pedipalps, as they do not have true jaws. They secrete venom for their fangs that will disintegrate the victim's flesh for a swift kill and ultimately easier digestion.
Though most known Spiders are almost exclusively carnivorous, a few species, primarily of jumping spiders, supplement their diet with plant matter such as sap, nectar, and pollen. However, most of these Spiders still need a mostly carnivorous diet to survive, and lab studies have shown that they become unhealthy when fed only plants.
Spider webbing.
Many spiders, but not all, build webs. Other spiders use a wide variety of methods to capture prey. Their webbing is used as methods of travel and nesting accommodation as well as sticky trapping for potential prey that cannot escape in time.
Appearances
The Spiders close in on Alan and Sarah.
In the 1995 film, in the Parrish Mansion's attic, Peter Shepherd's last dice roll released a flock of persistent giant "JUMANJI" Spiders that attacked the players. Since Alan Parrish and Sarah Whittle were unable to move away after being frozen into the floor, the Spiders surrounded them and forced Judy Shepherd to beat them back. Alan sent Peter to get an axe to protect themselves, but Judy was shot by a Purple Flower that left the players vulnerable since Peter refused to leave his sister when she collapsed. Alan and Sarah were left to their fate as the Spiders closed in on them, secreting venom from their fangs, but because of the oncoming earthquake triggered by Sarah's last role, the Spiders finally sensed the oncoming threat and scattered off.
Thanks to Alan Parrish's Token finally landing a winning roll and him calling out the name: "JUMANJI", the Spiders and other elements of Jumanji were taken back into the game, with the alternative timeline being undone and returned Alan and Sarah to 1969.
In the 2017 film, Spiders appear as minor nuisances, but some are under the control of Russell Van Pelt, thanks to his Zoology mind control ability gained from the Jaguar's Jewel.
Animated Series
Mecha Spiders.
In the animated series, Spiders of many different sizes and species inhabit the dimension of "JUMANJI", whether they are organic creatures of the natural wildlife, or mechanical creations of Professor J.S. Heinrich Ibsen.
Small Spiders.
As a tie-in for the 1995 film, Spiders of different sizes notably appear in the episode Price, where an enormous sized Spider appears after Peter reaches the Monkey Puzzle inside Alan's cave, which did not appear during his 23 years of living in "JUMANJI", only then having appeared when the crystal was touched. Whilst the robust giant Spider ignored Alan's offences it threatened to eat him and Judy, in the middle of Peter attempting to solve the Monkey puzzle while in the process of being devoured by a flock of tiny Tic-like Spiders.
Media
<tabber>Merch=
Board Game
- Secret symbol: Racquet
- Number: 1
PC Game
In the 1996 PC game, Spiders appear on the game from the box art and within the game itself.
- Tiny Bites (Rhino Totem): The player controls Judy Shepard, alone in the dark attic, swatting away bats and mosquitoes with a tennis racquet, while avoiding spiders, which eat the other enemies but can also harm the player.
LCD Game
A Spider appears in the 1997 LCD Hasbro game, as one of five possible dangers in the game. The poisonous Spider can be sneaky. He can be defeated by a fly-swatter, axe, spear, or rifle. If the player decides to roll the dice against him, the dice must match anything from a 1 up to a 4.References
- ↑ The Extreme Book of Nature
| ||
| Books | Novel • Film novel • Zathura | |
| Media | 1995 film • TV Series • Zathura: A Space Adventure • Welcome to the Jungle • The Next Level | |
| Games | Board Game • Jigsaw • Trading Cards • LCD Game • PC Game • PS2 Game • Mobile Game • 2019 Game • Fluxx • Stickers • The Curse Returns | |
| Jumanji 1995 Film | ||
| Brantford Characters | Alan Parrish • Sarah Whittle • Judy Shepherd • Peter Shepherd • Sam Parrish • Carol Parrish • Carl Bentley • Nora Shepherd • Martha Shepherd • Jim Shepherd • General Angus Parrish • Caleb Sproul • Benjamin Sproul • Mrs. Thomas • Billy Jessup • Ralph Smigel | |
| Antagonists | Van Pelt | |
| Animals | Rhinoceros • Elephant • Monkey • Crocodile • Lion • Bat • Mosquito • Spider • Pelican • Zebra | |
| Vegetation | Pod • Purple Flower | |
| Weather | Monsoon • Earthquake • Quicksand • Tornado • Thunderstorm | |
| Objects | Jumanji (board game) | |
| Locations | Jumanji Realm • Brantford • Parrish Mansion • Parrish Shoe Company • Sir Sav-A-Lot • Brantford Pawnshop | |