Tsuchigumo are monstrously large spiders that prey on humans. It is sometimes said to have the body of a tiger, but it is more commonly depicted as a spider that happens to be incredibly large. They live on mountains and in forests, waiting in their burrows to ambush passerby which they eat and feed to their offspring.
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Tsuchigumo rely on illusions and trickery to catch their prey. They use illusions to hide their webs and disguise themselves as beautiful women to seduce men. Beautiful songs are sometimes used to lure men to them. Their webs resemble tunnels and are often full of human skulls, scraps from its past meals.
The most common way to defeat a Tsuchigumo is to slice it open with a sword. This will cause any illusions it has cast to dissipate, and, if it is carrying eggs inside it, the human baby sized offspring will be killed as well. Tsuchigumo are unique in that they have white blood. However, like many more common spiders, they are also venomous. It uses this venom to help it incapacitate its prey, leaving them helpless even if they realize how much danger they are in.
FUN FACT: The word "tsuchigumo" used to be used as a derogatory term for aborigines in Japan who did not show allegiance to the emperor of Japan. It is unknown whether the term was first used to refer to these clans or the giant spiders.
Examples in various media:
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Jirai Gump (Yu-Gi-Oh) The card's name means "landmine spider". This is a reference to how the monster is said to burst out of its burrow and attack people.
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Spider Bandit (Ōkami)
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Tsuchigumo (Sine Mora) This is a robotic version of the creature that fires web-shaped bullet hell patterns.
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