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Photos of huge spiders. The largest spider in the world is the tarantula. biggest spider photo

The average spider is typically 4 to 6 centimeters in size. But there are also such instances that I can amaze with their dimensions. To determine which are the largest spiders in the world, you need to refer to the Guinness Book of Records.

Tarantulas Theraphosa Blonda

The largest spiders are tarantulas. They were first found and described by the French entomologist Latreille back in 1804. In 1965, the largest tarantula was discovered in Venezuela by the expedition of Pablo San Martin. His furry paws spanned exactly 28 centimeters.

This is enough to cover an ordinary dinner plate. It was this individual, the goliath tarantula, that got into the Guinness Book of Records. However, later experts found an even larger spider.

bird eater

Shaggy eight-legged tarantulas are harmless, but in humans they cause only antipathy and disgust. Spider venom is not dangerous, it can be compared with wasp venom. But at first, scientists considered them poisonous. But here is the benefit. Spiders are amazing creatures that many mistakenly refer to as insects. But in fact, spiders are arthropods from the arachnid class.

This spider species is found in the rainforests of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana, but single specimens have been recorded in Brazil and Venezuela. The animal does not justify its name "tarantula". Because of its terrifying size and habitat, in the trees, it was believed that the spider feeds on birds. But the tarantula feeds only on frogs, small rodents, fledgling birds, lizards and small snakes. The tropics are a real paradise for the largest spider. Photos show that they live in deep burrows, rock crevices, tree hollows, and the entrance is covered with cobwebs. The bird-eater does not weave a trap for his prey, but catches them himself. In addition to nets, they have another weapon - strong jaws. It is worth noting that spiders feed only on liquid food. They, as a rule, suck out the victim and leave only a dry shell from it.

In private collections, the tarantula Terafoz Blond can be found extremely rarely. Reproduction of these spiders requires seasonal changes in conditions. Therefore, such animals rarely breed in captivity. In addition, Theraphosa Blond spiders cannot be exported outside of many countries where they live.

Tarantula Terafoza Blonda on video


By the way, the world record for the size of the tarantula was repeated. A two-year-old animal of this species, which was bred by Robert Bustard and raised by Brian Barnett, also had a paw span of 28 centimeters and weighed only 170 grams.

However, the largest tarantula was discovered in the Paris Museum. The discovery was made by a German biologist who examined the exhibits. In a jar of formalin, he found a tarantula whose legs were 30 centimeters long. This is two centimeters more than the current record. As it turned out, the spider was caught in 1939 in Laos, after which it was kept in a museum for many years.

Spider - Nephila

These are the largest spiders that weave webs. They are also called banana spiders, giant tree spiders. And they are the real thunderstorm of birds.

The size of the body of this spider is from 1 to 4 centimeters, and the span of the legs can be up to 12 centimeters.


It is worth noting that female nephil spiders are much larger than males. The leg span of this giant fossil spider reached 15 centimeters. Among their victims there are even small birds. By the way, you can meet such an animal in Australia, Africa, Asia, America and Madagascar.

Now, 6 species of the genus Nephila are known in the fossil. Five of them are from the Neogene (Dominican amber, 16 million years), one from the Eocene (USA, 34 million years) and the Jurassic (165 million years).

The poison of these spiders is stronger, but not fatal to humans. It has a neurotoxic effect, like karakurt. Not the whole body hurts from a bite, but only the affected area. After that, blisters appear and disappear within 24 hours. Sometimes allergic reactions to the bite of a nephil are possible, and asthmatics have difficulty breathing. This genus of spiders has strong chelicerae, so a bite can leave a small scar on thin skin (for example, on fingers).



Nephila weaves a web on the branches of trees. They are brilliant architects. And very skillfully and skillfully weave a trap for their victims. "Yarn" is produced by special glands, which are located on the abdomen. The properties of threads surprise scientists so far. The web is so elastic and strong that it can support more weight than standard threads of this thickness. By the way, getting into the web of a nephila spider, the victim is unable to get out.

This web has already been used by fishermen from the coasts of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. They collect nets, make a ball out of them and throw them into the water to catch fish.

South Russian tarantula

Also known as misgir. It also has its place of honor in the ranking of "The Biggest Spiders in the World." They are found in Central Asia, Ukraine and southern Russia. Basically, the tarantula can be found in the desert, forest-steppe and steppe zones. The size of one spider is up to 3.5 centimeters - it is much inferior to tarantulas. The whole body is covered with hair, the color is brown-red, almost black.



The tarantula digs vertical holes. Their depth can reach 30 and even 40 centimeters. The entire dwelling is lined with cobwebs. If the tarantula has sensed an insect near the hole, then it quickly jumps out of its shelter and catches the victim. Do not run away and those insects that accidentally crawled into the hole to the spider. The tarantula is guided by the shadow of its victim, which runs along the entrance to the hole, it also feels the movement of running insects. By the way, if you tie a button or a plasticine ball to a thread, swing it around a mink, you can deceive the tarantula and lure it out. At night, spiders are more active, they get out of their shelter and move a short distance from the mink. Their main prey are beetles and orthoptera.

South Russian tarantula against the cockchafer

By the way, these spiders are poisonous, but they rarely bite a person. In terms of pain, the bite can be compared with a hornet. The affected area swells and hurts a lot. It must be burned immediately with a match. The bite of a tarantula is shallow, it injects poison into the skin. When cauterized, under the influence of temperature, the poison decomposes. Bites in children are especially painful. They may not go away within 2-3 days.

Spider-cross

This type of spider is even smaller than the tarantula. The size of the female is from 1.7 to 2.6 centimeters. The male is even less. They live mainly in Europe. You can also meet them in Russia, for example, in the Astrakhan, Smolensk, Rostov regions, as well as in Altai.



The spider is waiting for its prey on the web. He sits either in the center or next to him on a signal thread. The main food is mosquitoes and flies. But if something poisonous gets into the net, then the cross cuts the threads and releases its nets. Usually the web of the cross can be seen on the crowns of trees, between the branches. Threads can be seen immediately when visiting a forest, neglected grove or garden. Spider spider venom is toxic to vertebrates and invertebrates. Heat-labile hemolysin, which is part of the poison, acts on the erythrocytes of rabbits, mice, rats, and even humans.
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Mankind has never been indifferent to spiders. In some cultures, these animals are symbols of wisdom, in others they are harbingers of trouble. Giant spiders instill fear in mankind, acting as heroes of horror films and action novels.

Pictures with arachnids are used as sketches for tattoos. Many people suffer from arachnophobia, the fear of these arthropods. Try not to be scared, because here is the top 10 largest spiders in the world.

10 Nephila edulis (Nephila edulis)

The nephila-goldweaver spider species has gained worldwide fame due to the fact that these spiders are able to weave the largest web. They are sometimes referred to as orb-weavers or tree spiders because of their love of making a home among tree branches.

The body size of this spider, together with the legs, is 12 cm. Females predominate in size over males of this species. This phenomenon is called sexual dimorphism, and it is common to most spider species on the planet.

The poison of the orb weaver cannot lead to the death of a person, but a blister at the site of the bite is provided. Powerful predator chelicerae can leave a bite scar on the skin. You can meet these graceful spiders in the forests of Australia and New Caledonia.

9 Huge wall tegenaria (Tegenaria parietin)


The size of wall tegenaria reaches 13 cm along with the limbs. Spiders of this species often hide in residential buildings, which was the reason for the name of the spider.

You should not be afraid of the formidable appearance of the spider, since this type of danger does not pose a danger to humans. Wall tegenaria feeds on insects.

Arachnids cannot run for long distances, but they perfectly overcome short ones. Previously, these arthropods could be found in the homes of Africa, but recently the population of the species has declined significantly.

8 Arabian Cerbal (Cerbalus aravensis)

Arachnids of this species caught the eye of researchers only in the 21st century. The first specimen was discovered in 2003. The size of an individual, together with the legs, can reach up to 14 cm. The color of the Arabian cerbal is predominantly beige with black spots on the legs.

The natural habitat for these predators is the desert area in Israel and Jordan.

7 Brazilian wandering spider (Phoneutria Brazil)

The dimensions of the animal are quite modest compared to the following representatives of the top. The length of its body, together with the paws, reaches 17 cm. Despite its modest size, this species poses a mortal threat to humans, the poison of a predator can be fatal.

To be afraid of a wandering spider is the inhabitants of the tropics in South America. Unlike its arthropod brothers, the predator prefers to actively seek prey rather than weave a web. Because of the constant movement around the area, the spider got its name - wandering.

If the spider sees prey, it makes a swift jump to a great height and injects poison into the victim's body.

The hunter's diet is most often insects, but with a strong desire, he is able to kill even a small bird. Cannibalism is also found among spiders of this species, when strong and healthy individuals can eat weaker counterparts.

6 Giant Baboon Spider (Spider Hysterocrates)

The baboon spider is a huge member of the tarantula family. Individuals of the species can have both gray and brown color with white spots on the legs. The legs of the animal are densely covered with stiff hairs.

Like many other spiders, the baboon spider searches for food mainly at night. During the day it burrows into a deep burrow and sleeps. In gastronomic preferences, the predator is not whimsical, he is not averse to eating insects or small rodents. Small birds can also be included in the predator's diet.

The span of the paws of the majestic spider reaches 20 cm. During the defense, the predator stands on its hind legs, furiously drumming on the soil with its front ones, thereby scaring off the attacker.

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5 Purple tarantula (Xenesthis immanis)

The name of this tarantula speaks for itself. Its body is bright purple with occasional yellowish patches on its legs.

This species is often kept at home as a pet, since a spider cannot harm a person. But he willingly eats smaller spiders, frogs and small rodents. In captivity, spiders of this species can be fed insects.

The span of the limbs of purple beauties reaches up to 20 cm, and you can meet them in wildlife in the tropical forests of South America.

4 Camel spider

Another name for this spider is salpuga. The span of the spider's limbs can reach 30 cm, and the speed of movement reaches 16 km / h. Natural habitat - deserts, excluding Australia.

The hunting time of the camel spider is night. He is not averse to eating rodents, small reptiles and chicks. A distinctive feature of the salpuga is the most unpleasant squeak that the animal makes during defense.

3 Salmon-pink tarantula (Lasiodora parahybana)

This awesome spider has an extremely delicate coloration. Pink and coral hairs on the body of the tarantula make it a desirable prey for collectors.

The homeland of the spider is Brazil, and its size, together with the limbs, can reach 30 cm. Females of individuals are much larger than males, their weight can reach 100 grams.

2 Giant crab spider (Huntsman Spider)

The body length of the crab spider, together with the legs, is 30 cm. The animal got its name due to the fact that its legs vaguely resemble the claws of a crab. Thick and imposing, they evoke fear by their very appearance.

Most often there are individuals with a uniform brown color, but the presence of red and white spots is allowed. The homeland of huge crab spiders is Australia.

Another nickname is the hunter, the arthropod received because of the speed of movement. Lightning attacks at frightening heights leave no chance for the victims of this spider.

True, people have nothing to worry about, since the bite of one of the largest spiders in the world does not lead to death.

1 Theraphosa blondi - the largest spider in the world

Another name for this huge spider is the goliath tarantula.

The food of this animal can be frogs, small snakes and even small rodents. The limb span of the largest spider of this species reached 40 cm. The body of females can reach a size of 100 mm, males have a more modest physique, they grow up to 85 mm in the carcass. The weight of the animal can reach up to 200 grams.

You can admire the grace of this gigantic spider in the video.

For the first time, mankind met the goliath tarantula in 1804. An entomologist from France drew attention to the impressive dimensions of the spider and its color. The body of the tarantula is painted in brown tones, and reddish hairs are visible on the legs. The animal prefers to live in deep holes, the entrance to which is carefully braided with cobwebs.

The photo of the largest spider in the world was awarded a place in the Guinness Book of Records. Many arachnid lovers want to acquire a rare specimen for their home collection, but this is impossible, because tarantulas breed very poorly in captivity.

The export of Terafoz Blond abroad is prohibited by the legislation of those countries in which this species lives. The natural habitat for the record holder in the world of spiders is Brazil, Venezuela and Suriname.

Arthropods are longtime companions of man. They inhabited the Earth long before he appeared on it. This type of animal is well studied, including the largest in it in terms of the number of species, including about 42 thousand units.

Many people are interested in animal record holders. For example, the largest, smallest, longest-lived, etc. What is the largest spider in the world? The answer to this question will be given below.

ancient spiders

Giant spiders lived on our planet in prehistoric times. However, their size then, as scientists suggest, was much more impressive. In the modern world, the largest spider is no larger than the average size of a plate. In ancient times, according to researchers, there could be spiders the size of a small child. These assumptions are based on the existence of meganeurs confirmed by archaeological research - giant dragonflies that lived on Earth in the Carboniferous period, whose wingspan was up to 1 meter. By analogy, it is believed that other insects, as well as arthropods that inhabited our planet in ancient times, could have been gigantic. However, this hypothesis has not been confirmed by archaeological finds. The name of the largest fossil spider is Nephila Jurassica. It was found in China, and is quite comparable in size to modern arthropods: the span of its paws is about 15 centimeters. This is a female.

General information

The largest spider in the world belongs to the tarantula family. Its name is Theraphosa blondi. The French scientist Pierre André Latreille described it in 1804, and since then it has been the focus of zoologists' attention. These arthropods, which live in the mountainous rainforests of northern Brazil, Venezuela, Suriname and Guyana, are quite rare in nature.

Tarantulas dig deep burrows and line them with woven cobwebs. They leave their home only for hunting and mating.

Description

The females of these tarantulas, also called goliaths, as is often the case in the animal kingdom, are much larger than males. The description of the largest spider in the world testifies to its unique size. So, the body length of the male goliath tarantula is about 85 mm, and the female is up to 100 mm. If you straighten all its limbs, then the dimensions of the arthropod will be about 28 cm! The average weight of a spider is about 150 grams.

The body of the goliath spider is dark brown in color, the limbs are covered with reddish-brown fine hairs. But this “plumage” is not an ornament, but a means of protection. Getting into the respiratory organs or on the skin of the opponent of the goliath, these hairs cause severe irritation and force him to retreat. Tarantulas comb hairs off themselves with sharp movements of their hind legs towards the enemy. In addition, small hairs serve as an organ of touch. With their help, goliaths are able to capture the smallest vibrations in the air or a solid medium. The hairs partly compensate for the spider's poor eyesight, helping it hunt at night.

On the front paws of males there are special outgrowths-hooks with which they hold the jaws of the female during the mating process in order to save their lives. After this process, the males hastily retreat.

In addition to hairs, these giants also have one more weapon - a strong poison, which for a long time was considered deadly. In fact, in humans, it causes only a strong burning sensation and swelling. The pain is quite tolerable and can be compared with the sensations of a bee sting. But for those who suffer from allergies, the bite of a goliath tarantula can be a serious danger.

reproduction

Goliath tarantulas reach puberty at different times: males at the age of one and a half, and females - two - two and a half years. Until this time, males pass 9, and females - 10 molts. After mating, the females spin a small cocoon, about 3 cm long, in which they lay their eggs. The spider vigilantly guards the masonry throughout the entire breeding time (6-7 weeks), and even going hunting, carries it with her. At this time, she is most aggressive, and meeting her does not bode well. Little spiderlings live in a hole with their mother until the first molt, then leave the shelter.

Nutrition

The diet of this arthropod is quite diverse. It includes insects, as well as small animals - snakes, frogs, lizards, rodents. He, despite his name, does not attack birds, except that he can feast on a chick that has fallen out of the nest.

Attacking the victim, the goliath tarantula first bites it, immobilizing it with its poison, and injects digestive juices into its body that soften the flesh. This allows the spider to suck out nutrients while leaving the hard shells intact.

Those who are going to keep these giants at home should provide them with the usual conditions. The optimum temperature for keeping these arthropods is 22-24 degrees Celsius, humidity is 70-80%. Since this spider is burrowing and nocturnal, there must be a shelter in the terrarium. Good ventilation must be provided. At the bottom of the terrarium there should be a layer of substrate 6-8 cm thick.

The spider should be fed with small insects and pieces of meat. Lizards, mice and frogs can be used to feed adults.

It should be remembered that this arthropod has a rather nervous and aggressive character, and it must be handled with care. The tarantula is not friendly, and if the owner wants to accustom him to hands, you need to do it gradually, carefully removing the pet from the terrarium to avoid bites.

Here are some interesting facts about Theraphosa blondi:

    The largest spider in the world owes its name to the famous illustrator, engraver of the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries, Maria Sibilla Merian, whose drawings enriched botany and zoology. It is difficult to overestimate her contribution to science, because the artist left many images of plants, insects, and animals. Even today her drawings amaze with exceptional accuracy and liveliness of colors. Impressed by the story of researchers who allegedly saw how the world's largest goliath spider devours a bird, she depicted this scene in one of her works, and the legend thus gained further distribution.

    An interesting feature of goliath tarantulas is the so-called stridulation - the ability to make peculiar hissing sounds by rubbing chelicerae - oral appendages against each other. It is assumed that in nature it is used by these giants to scare off enemies.

    The Theraphosa blondi population in nature is quite small and is declining from year to year. One of the reasons for this is that among the locals, not only the spiders themselves, but also their eggs are considered a real delicacy, and they eat them with pleasure.

    The largest and most dangerous spiders in the world for humans are not tarantulas at all. They are considered to be arthropods called Brazilian wandering spiders (genus Phoneutria). Their size is much more modest, only about 10 cm, but the poison is much more toxic. The bite of Brazilian wandering spiders is moderately painful, but in the absence of medical attention, it causes paralysis and respiratory arrest. However, there is an effective antidote against this neurotoxin (PhTx3), so the number of deaths is less than it could be.

On a note

In some lists of the largest and most terrible spiders, the first place is mistakenly taken by Heteropoda maxima, a species discovered in 2001 in Laos. Indeed, this arthropod has a larger limb span - up to 30 mm. However, the goliath tarantula significantly exceeds it in body size: 85 and 100 mm in males and females, respectively, against 30 and 46 mm. Thus, of these giant spiders, Theraphosa blondi is still considered the largest spider in the world.

Finally

The article briefly described the largest spider in the world. Although it does not pose a particular danger to humans, its size inspires respect. This unique creature, despite its repulsive appearance, is an integral harmonious part of wildlife and occupies its rightful place in it. We hope that the information presented in the material will be interesting and useful for readers.

A European considers a spider 4-6 cm in size to be large, but almost 42 thousand species of these arthropods are distinguished in the world, among which there are larger specimens. The largest spiders in the world have dimensions that are simply not natural, they eat rodents and large birds, and can be dangerous because of their poison. You can read about them in the Guinness Book of Records, and if you are going on vacation to exotic countries, then our rating of the largest spiders on the planet will be useful to you.

10. Nephila-goldweaver

In last place on our list of the largest spiders in the world is a relative of the ancient spiders Nefila Jurassic, who were on our earth back in the Jurassic period. Of all kinds of spiders spinners-nephiles stands out not only for its huge size, but also for the fact that. . The females are much larger than the males. They live in trees, which is why they are also called tree spiders. The world is inhabited by such hot regions as South and North America, Asia, Africa, Australia. Between the branches, these spiders weave a web in which flies, butterflies and birds are confused. In the center of the web is a large female, and gentlemen during the mating season huddle near the edges of the golden yarn. The colors are greenish-yellow, with a transition to red. They are highly toxic, but not fatal to humans.

9. Tegenaria brownie

This representative of large spiders lives in Europe and is also called the giant house spider. Lives in Central Asia, Africa, Uruguay and Argentina. . The body color is pale gray, the front legs are brown. Females carry a cocoon with eggs on themselves until spiders hatch from it. Tegenaria moves faster than all spiders over a short distance. The species acquired its name because it likes to live in caves and abandoned buildings. Meet Tegenaria quite difficult, mainly, these spiders live in hot Asia and Africa.

8 Brazilian wandering spider

Also, these arachnids are also called banana spiders. Science knows 8 varieties of this genus of spiders. . They live in the humid regions of Central and South America, these are the forests of Venezuela and northern Brazil. It is called so due to the fact that it always migrates, looking for food. It is divided into a running type (catching up with its victim at a very high speed), and jumping (overtaking the victim with the help of jumps). They eat beetles, other spiders, lizards and birds. brazilian spider not only one of the largest in the world, but also has a very strong poison. It has a pronounced brown color and a body with sensitive hairs. They go out for the victim at night, and during the day they hide in crevices, under stones or in residential buildings.

The genus of spiders that includes brazilian wandering spider, is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as containing the most poisonous members of the family.

7. Cerbal of Arabia

Scientists discovered this type of large spiders only in 2003. . Females are always larger than males. In the world, they have been found in the sand dunes of Arabia, Israel and South Jordan. It is very difficult to notice it on the sand, because its color is yellowish, there are black stripes on the limbs, and the body is covered with hairs. It only hunts at night, which is why science discovered it so late.

6 Giant Baboon Spider

Also called Red Cameroonian baboon spider. , is a member of the tarantula family. Inhabits the tropics and subtropics of South America. He got his name for the similarity of the legs with the paws of a monkey. The body is covered with hairs, the color changes from dark gray to pronounced brown. Hunts in the dark, eating beetles and other insects, scorpions, termites, lizards, toads and the same large baboon spiders. The spider is poisonous and its poison can be fatal for a person, but it attacks people only when it sees a threat from them. After being bitten, the victim experiences shock, vomiting, and partial paralysis of the body. This large spider is interesting because, when attacking or defending, it stands upright on its hind legs and hisses like a snake. The view is truly intimidating. People should be wary of such ferocious animals, which are also among the ten largest spiders in the world.

5. Purple tarantula

In the middle of the ranking of the largest arthropods in the world is Colombian purple spider. This species belongs to the genus Tarantula and is found in the forests of South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Panama, Costa Rica). . It is called so because it often feeds on birds. They are not dangerous for people. The main diet will be insects, frogs, rodents. The number of purple tarantulas on the planet is small, which is why it is problematic to meet this large and beautiful spider in nature. Colombian tarantula has a velvety black color, limbs of a bright purple or crimson color. The pattern is star-shaped, the surface of the carapace is covered with hairs. Males live 2-3 years, females are longer - up to 15 years.

4 Camel Spider

This type of giant spider belongs to the class of arachnids, a detachment of phalanges. There are more than 1000 of their species in the world. In various sources, it is also called bikhorka, salpuga, phalanx spider, wind scorpion, etc.. Inhabits camel spider all continents of the world except Australia. They got their name for their resemblance to camels, because of the several humps on their heads. The color of the body is brownish-yellow, long hairs on the legs. They are active at night, hunting beetles, lizards, birds, mice and other animals. Often these spiders attack people. Able to run very fast, up to 16 km per hour. They do not have poison, but when bitten, the rotten remnants of the previous prey enter the body, from which blood poisoning can develop, in addition, the bite is accompanied by great pain. The place where the spider has bitten must be treated with an antiseptic, and if infected, take antibiotics.

3 Giant Crab Spider

The top three list of the largest spiders in the world opens giant crab spider. Belongs to the sidewalk family. . Lives in Australia. The crab spider is so called due to the curved limbs and the ability to move not only forward, but also left and right. Moves as fast as a crab, and instantly kills the victim. During the attack, they make large jumps and inject poison when they bite. For a person, it is not fatal, but it is better not to meet this big monster. After a bite, a headache, nausea, vomiting, and local swelling appear. The color of spiders is gray, light brown, they are black and white, with red spots. Sparse hairs grow on the body, feed on invertebrates, frogs, and insects.

2. Brazilian pink tarantula

Brazilian pink tarantula(Lasiodora parahybana) was first discovered in Brazil in 1917. Every. This spider is very fond of keeping as a pet. In the world, these spiders live in the eastern part of Brazil. Females are always larger than males, of course. They live a very long time, female individuals up to 15 years. They have an aggressive nature. This name was given for the pink coloring of the body in the place where the legs come from. Feeds on birds, lizards, young snakes. For protection, it shakes off the poisonous substance from its allergenic hairs, and demonstrates its fighting spirit by raising its front pair of paws.

1. Goliath tarantula

It is rightly called the largest spider in the world. Legs extended size Goliath, in the mouth there are fangs with poison, 2.5 cm in size. This species of tarantula spiders lives in South America. The coloring has all tones of brown, on the paws there are characteristic transverse white stripes. He likes to be in wet, swampy places, here he digs holes half a meter deep and covers them with cobwebs. Contrary to the name, they rarely eat birds; their diet consists of snakes, rodents, toads, lizards, and butterflies. At night, the spider sees well, it waits for prey in ambush, then pounces on it with great speed and bites with large fangs. Aggressive, before an attack, it makes strong sounds and shakes off an irritating allergenic substance from its hairs. Goliath's venom is rather weak, but the biggest danger is the hairs, which can cause allergies or asthma.

The largest spider in the world - Goliath tarantula (Theraphosa blondi) hunts a mouse.

The spider realm is varied and numerous. In our homes, we usually see small six-toed arachnids weaving their webs in corners and other shaded places. At the same time, they can go unnoticed for quite a long time. But in the world of spiders, there are also real giants, whose paw span surprises, and even inspires fear in some. We invite you to consider the TOP 10 largest representatives of the spider kingdom and find out what it looks like and what dimensions the largest spider in the world has.

Nephilic Circumspins

Nephila is a genus of large spiders that weave the largest and most durable webs that can contain very large prey. For example, in Australia, small birds were found in nets of nephila.

This is interesting! Their fishing nets are so large and strong that even fishermen fishing in the waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans use them - they collect a web, roll a ball out of it and lower it into the water. It turns out that this net helps to get a pretty good catch!

Members of the nephilic orb weaving genus go by many names, with banana spiders and giant tree spiders among the best known. Their poison is strong, but it does not pose any serious threat to human health. In most cases, the effects of a bite are local in nature: the affected area turns a little red, starts to hurt, and blisters may appear. During the day, these symptoms usually disappear. The development of an allergic reaction and bronchial spasm in patients with asthma is rare.

Characteristic:

  • body length varies between 1-4 cm;
  • leg span is approximately 12 cm;
  • the color can be different: from yellow-green to reddish;
  • live in Australia, Madagascar, America, Asia and Africa.

Brazilian wandering (wandering) spider

This specimen belongs to the genus of runner spiders. In 2010, this fairly large arachnid was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the most venomous spider in the world. And he really is much more than other representatives of his kind.

The Brazilian wandering spider deservedly earned its name. The thing is that he does not sit in his web - wandering spiders hunt exclusively on foot, during their wanderings. Noticing the victim, he immediately rushes to her, developing considerable speed. Having caught up, he bites into the prey with his chelicerae and injects a poisonous secret through the channels of the poisonous glands.

It shows the greatest activity with the advent of twilight, and during the day it prefers to hide in secluded places: sometimes under stones, and sometimes it wanders into a person’s dwelling, where it hides right in things and shoes. However, the Brazilian wandering spider does not purposefully attack, but bites solely for the purpose of self-defense.

Characteristic:

  • body length can be about 5 cm;
  • leg span approximately 10-12 cm;
  • live in the tropical part of Central and South America;
  • the diet includes insects, other spiders, as well as birds and lizards, which are larger than himself.

Smith's brachypelma or Mexican tarantula

This is very, which is often kept at home (mainly due to its large size and bright color). In the wild, he chooses wet areas, often hiding in dense thickets of shrubs.

On a note! Today, all spiders from the genus Brachypelma are on the list of prohibited trapping for further sale, as their number in natural conditions has declined sharply!

Unlike many of the closest "relatives", the Brachipelma Smith spider is absolutely non-aggressive. It is considered one of the calmest and its poison is less toxic compared to the poison of other tarantulas. But what is remarkable, often it is not the poison that poses a threat to health, but the burning hairs that cover their entire body and paws. When stressed, the spider usually sheds part of the hairline from the abdomen, and if a few villi get on the skin, this is fraught with an allergic reaction - itching and redness. And if the hairs are on the mucous membrane of the eye, then serious damage to vision is possible.

Characteristic:

  • body size no more than 8 cm;
  • leg span does not exceed 17 cm;
  • the body is colored dark brown, in some places the color is black, there are orange or red fragments on the legs, sometimes there may be yellow or white edging;
  • the color of the hairs covering the body is light pink or brown;
  • the diet includes large insects, small lizards and rodents.

Giant baboon spider or royal baboon tarantula

This poisonous giant can also become your pet. The giant baboon spider is indeed quite often kept at home, but, despite its very intimidating appearance, it does not pose a particular danger. Its venom is, of course, toxic, but only to small invertebrates. If this spider bites a person, then with the timely provision of medical care, this will not bring any consequences other than nausea.

Like many other representatives of the spider world, the baboon leads a twilight and nocturnal lifestyle. It belongs to burrowing species and at the same time its nest is not just a hole, but a whole system of tunnels. Found in subtropical and tropical forests. During the hunt, he pulls out a small depression in the grassy area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe area and braids its surface with cobwebs.

Why is this spider called a baboon? Because they are eaten with great pleasure by monkeys with the same name.

This is interesting! Most spiders prefer to lead a solitary lifestyle, while cannibalism at an early age in many species is far from uncommon. But baboon spiders behave differently - young individuals hatched from eggs not only do not eat each other, but even share food. Some adult spiders can co-exist in the same burrow and share the adjacent tunnel system!

Characteristic:

  • body size reaches 8-9 cm;
  • leg span can be about 20 cm;
  • painted red-brown, like rust;
  • lives on the African continent;
  • Feeds on insects, small spiders and small vertebrates.

Colombian purple tarantula

These arthropods are also often made as eight-legged friends. However, the nature of these tarantulas is not at all domestic - they are quite aggressive. Despite this, many still opt for such a “cute” hairy spider, besides, its bite is absolutely not dangerous for a person.

The Colombian purple tarantula looks out for its potential prey from a secluded place, and when it is found, it immediately runs out of cover and, having overtaken the prey, pierces its body with its powerful chelicerae.

Characteristic:

  • the span of the legs reaches 23 cm;
  • range: Panama, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela, where it lives in tropical rainforests;
  • the diet includes insects, small spiders, frogs, fish, small rodents and small birds;
  • the life expectancy of the female is 15 years, the male is no more than 3 years.

phalanges

Because of the hump on their backs, they are also called camel spiders. They are very mobile and representatives of almost all species are nocturnal hunters. Camel spiders have sparse hair on the body and limbs.

Their eyesight is quite remarkable. The phalanges have a scorpion eye structure: one pair is located in front and one more eye is on the sides. At the same time, all of them are complex, they distinguish light and react to movement. And as a result - an excellent reaction with a minimum delay of a fraction of a second (like a fly). Thus, phalanxes are not only excellent hunters, but also almost elusive prey.

Another notable feature of the phalanges is their large, strong chelicerae, which can bite through not only the skin, but even the human nail. Each chelicera consists of two parts connected by a joint and looks very much like a crab claw. With their help, spiders cut off feathers and hair from the body of their prey, with which they subsequently cover the bottom of their nest.

Characteristic:

  • body size reaches 7 cm;
  • leg span can be 23-24 cm;
  • yellow-brown color;
  • found everywhere except the Australian continent, lives mainly in desert areas;
  • feeds on small arthropods, sometimes lizards are present in the diet.

Hunter spider or giant crab spider

At the sight of this huge spider, the question involuntarily arises, what then should be the largest spider in the world. And this question is quite understandable, since the size of the hunter spider is really impressive. The span of its paws reaches 25 cm, and the spikes located on them make it look even more intimidating. Plus, the legs of this spider are rather unusual in shape - they are twisted like a crab. Thus, it is to them that the giant crab spider owes its name.

On a note! The special structure of the legs allows hunter spiders to easily crawl into secluded cracks in wood, under the bark of trees, etc.!

Characteristic:

  • body size with legs no more than 25 cm;
  • the body is painted gray or light brown, in representatives of certain species reddish or black-and-white spots may be observed;
  • there are spikes on the legs;
  • the body is pubescent.

Lasiodora parahybana or Brazilian orange and pink tarantula

This species of tarantula was first discovered in 1917. Moreover, this spider is endemic, that is, its range is very limited, in this case, the state of Paraiba, located in Brazil.

Lasiodora parahybana is one of the largest spiders in the world. The body length of an adult reaches 10 cm, and the paw span is 26 cm. The body is colored dark brown or black, which in some places may turn gray.

Oddly enough, the main food of these huge spiders are insects, but sometimes larger individuals, such as lizards and mice, may appear on their menu.

The main giant of the spider world

goliath tarantula

It is this representative of the tarantula species that is recognized as the largest spider in the world. The Goliath tarantula, due to the presence of two-centimeter fangs, looks rather intimidating. The paw span of an adult reaches about 27-28 cm, and the body weight is about 170 g. It attacks only when it feels threatened. In addition, when bitten, he does not always inject his toxic secret, but even if this happens, he does not pose any particular danger to humans.

The goliath tarantula lives in the tropics of South America. He builds housing for himself on his own - he pulls out a half-meter mink and covers it with a kind of door from his own web. The life expectancy of females is about 25 years, males are given much less time by nature - no more than 6 years.

The galliaf tarantula does not use cobwebs for hunting. He waits for his victim in a secluded place and, when approached, makes a swift jump. The tarantula bites into the prey with its long chelicerae and immediately immobilizes it with poison. And since the spider itself is very large, it is unable to get enough of insects alone. In addition to them, his diet includes frogs, mice, lizards and even small snakes.

South Russian tarantula

Considering the largest arachnids of the planet, I would also like to mention the largest spider that lives in Russia. This is: the body length of females is about 3 cm, males - no more than 2.5 cm. Compared to the individuals described above, of course, it looks rather small.

Zones with dry climates are preferred for the South Russian tarantula, therefore it is most often found in desert, semi-desert and steppe regions, rarely in the forest-steppe.

For hunting, the South Russian tarantula digs a shallow mink and lines its walls and bottom with its web. When prey appears in his field of vision, he immediately jumps out of his hiding place and catches it. As a rule, a shadow hanging over a mink is a signal for an attack.

This is interesting! This feature makes it quite easy to lure the South Russian tarantula out of hiding - just tie a small button to a thread and swing it over the mink!

The poison of the South Russian tarantula is not particularly dangerous for humans. At the site of the bite, only swelling occurs. Sometimes the skin around the affected area becomes yellow and retains this shade for a month. Its venom does not cause death in humans.