A face-sized tarantula was recently discovered in a hospital in Northern Sri Lanka.

The face-sized tarantula is up to 8-inches across and has "beautiful, ornate markings" on its legs.

Although it is venomous, the "tiger spider" is not considered lethal to humans. However, when the face-sized tarantula was discovered in trees and the doctor's quarters in a local hospital in Mankulam, patients and employees were understandably frightened.

Some scientists that study spiders expressed doubt that the face-sized tarantula is a completely new species, but the British Tarantula Society's journal editor Peter Kirk said the spider "has enough significant differences to separate it from the other spiders."

The 'tiger spider' belongs to the genus Poecilotheria, known as "Pokies." They are known for being colorful, fast, and venomous. They are related to the Goliath bird-eater of South America, the world's largest spider.

Several of the species closely related to the face-sized tarantula are endangered, mostly due to loss of habitat. P. metallica, a bright blue spider, is considered critically endangered.

Ranil Nanayakkara, the scientist who first documented the face-sized spider, noted that it is normally difficult to find, but that may soon change.  He said, "They prefer well-established old trees, but due to deforestation the number have dwindled and due to lack of suitable habitat they enter old buildings."