Fascinating moment huntsman spider sheds its skin

This is the  moment a huntsman spider completely sheds its skin in a fascinating feat of nature.

Footage of a small but terrifying huntsman shows the eight-legged creature slowly rid itself of its outer shell while clinging to a plant.

Jake Giannino captured the rare spectacle in his backyard in Healesville, Victoria, after spotting the spider starting to shed its exoskeleton.

Jake Giannino captured the rare spectacle (pictured) in his backyard in Healesville, Victoria, after spotting the spider starting to shed its exoskeleton

The 23-year-old, who also happens to be a biologist, found the natural phenomenon to be interesting rather than spine-chilling and decided to take a time-lapse video.

‘I watched the moulting process the whole way through, it was really interesting. I have kept loads of huntsman spiders but I have never been lucky enough to capture that before,’ Mr Giannino told PerthNow. 

‘It’s a once in a lifetime experience to see this, especially during the day – normally you would have to wait up all night to try and witness it.’

According to Mr Giannino, the entire process took little more than 10 minutes.

The 23-year-old, who also happens to be a biologist, found the natural phenomenon to be interesting rather than spine-chilling and decided to take a time-lapse video

According to Mr Giannino, the entire process took little more than 10 minutes.

After the huntsman emerged from his former shell, it curls up to protect its soft, jelly-like body until it hardens up again.

‘When it comes out of the exoskeleton, it’s body is a velvety, jelly-like consistency,’ Mr Giannino added.

The arachnid-fanatic identified the spider as a badge huntsman, which is not known to have a particularly venomous bite.

No serious symptoms have ever been recorded from a bade huntsman bite – however other species of spiders in the same family can cause general symptoms including local severe pain and swelling, sweating, nausea and vomiting.