Giant Spiders Released from a Government DNA Laboratory in Missouri: Facts

Story:

RIGHT HERE IN MO !
SPIDERS HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM A DNA LABORATORY LOCATED NEAR THE WOLF SANCTUARY ON ANTIRE RD !

“Government testing on DNA has produced these spiders in a Laboratory in Missouri. Unfortunately they have been located off Lewis Rd just west of laboratory and seem to be breading in the wild much faster than when captive.”
“Government officials are doing all they can to try to eliminate these spiders but can offer no guarantees. They could be popping up in surrounding neighborhoods west of the siting (Eureka, Pacific, Union, and St. Clair) within weeks.”
What we have in our favor is that winter is approaching and hope to slow down the migration no further than St. Clair before the cold hits.”
“If you see these stay indoors and call the local police. They have been informed on procedures of capture and contact of the local governing agency.”

Picture about Giant Spiders Released from a Government DNA Laboratory in Missouri — Giant Spiders Released from a Government DNA Laboratory in Missouri

Analysis:

Couple of pictures shared online are attached to stories warning general public that the deadly ‘Giant Spiders’ are seen around Missouri and are produced by the Government in a Laboratory as a part of secret DNA testing. It is not a fact!

Claim is Hoax

These picture messages warning to show giant spiders produced by the Government as a part of secret DNA testing in Missouri have been shared online since September 2014. They are not pictures of any giant, deadly spiders or mutants, and more importantly, the Government did not produce them in laboratory.

Picture of Coconut Crab (Birgus latro) — Coconut Crab (Birgus latro)

Pictures Real

The huge, creepy-crawly critters climbing up a palm tree and threatening small animals are actually Coconut Crabs (Birgus latro), also known as the robber crab or palm thief, which is the largest land-living arthropod in the world. Coconut crabs can grow to up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) in length from leg to leg and weigh up to 4.1 kg (9.0 lb). They are usually found on islands across the Indian Ocean and parts of the Pacific Ocean and grow remarkably slowly. Their claws are strong enough to crack open coconuts to eat the flesh, and interestingly, they can also climb trees to pick coconuts.

You can see some similar pictures of Coconut Crabs above. The video below shows one such giant coconut crab.

But alas, the coconut crabs do not usually survive long enough to grow to their full potential, because pigs, dogs and humans eat them. They are hunted and destroyed in most areas with a significant human population.