The biggest spider in the world - who is he?

The spider kingdom is diverse and numerous. In our homes, we usually see small six-fingered arachnids that weave their nets in corners and other shaded places. At the same time, they can go unnoticed for quite some time. But in the world of spiders, there are real giants whose paw spans are surprising, and some even inspire fear. We suggest you consider the TOP 10 largest representatives of the spider kingdom and find out what it looks like and what sizes the largest spider in the world has.

Nephil Orb

Nephila is a genus of large spiders weaving the largest and most durable cobwebs in which very large prey can be found. For example, in Australia, small birds were found in nephilic nets.

It is interesting! Their trapping nets are so large and strong that even fishermen who fish in the waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans use them - they collect cobwebs, roll a ball from it and lower it into the water. It turns out that this network helps to get a pretty good catch!

Representatives of the genus Nephilus moths have many names, among the most famous are banana spiders and giant tree spiders. Their poison is strong, but it does not pose any serious threat to human health. In most cases, the consequences of the bite are local in nature: the affected area turns 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 a rarity.

Characteristic:

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

Brazilian wandering (wandering) spider

This instance belongs to the family of runner spiders. In 2010, this rather large arachnid was noted in the Guinness Book of Records as the most poisonous spider in the world. And he really is much more dangerousthan other representatives of his kind.

The Brazilian wandering spider conquered its name justifiably. The thing is that he does not sit in his web - wandering spiders hunt exclusively “on foot” during their wanderings. Having noticed the victim, he immediately rushes to it, developing considerable speed. Having caught up, he digs into the prey with his chelicera and injects a poisonous secret through the channels of the poisonous glands.

It is most active with the advent of dusk, and during the day prefers to take refuge in secluded places: sometimes under stones, and sometimes wander into a person’s dwelling, where he hides right in things and shoes. However, the purposeful Brazilian wandering spider does not attack, but bites solely for the purpose of self-defense.

Characteristic:

• body length can be about 5 cm;
• leg span of about 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.

Brachypelma Smith or Mexican Tarantula

It is quite attractive tarantula, which is often kept at home (mainly due to the large size and bright color). In the wild, he selects moist areas, often hiding in dense thickets of shrubs.

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

Unlike many of the closest “relatives,” the Brachipelm Smith spider is completely non-aggressive. It is considered one of the calmest and its poison is less toxic compared with the poison of other tarantulas. But what is noteworthy is often not poison that poses a threat to health, but burning hairs that cover their entire body and legs. Under stress, the spider usually drops 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 the eyesight is possible.

Characteristic:

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

Giant Baboon Spider or Royal Baboon Tarantula

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

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

Why was this spider called baboon? Because it is with great pleasure that monkeys with the same name eat them.

It is interesting! Most spiders prefer a solitary lifestyle, with cannibalism at an early age in many species is not uncommon. But baboons spiders behave differently - young individuals hatched from eggs not only do not eat each other, but even share food. Some adult spiders can coexist together in the same hole 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 octopus friends. However, the nature of these tarantula spiders is not at all domestic - they are quite aggressive. Despite this, many still opt for such a “cute” shaggy spider, moreover, his bite is absolutely not dangerous for a person.

A Colombian violet tarantula looks out for its potential victim from a secluded place and when it can be found, it immediately runs out of hiding and, having overtaken its prey, pierces its body with its powerful chelicera.

Characteristic:

• the sweep of the legs reaches 23 cm;
• Range: Panama, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela, where it lives in tropical rainforests;
• insects, small spiders, frogs, fish, small rodents and small birds are included in the diet;
• the female has a life expectancy of 15 years, the male - no more than 3 years.

Phalanx

Because of the hump on their back, they are also called camel spiders. They are very mobile and representatives of almost all types are night hunters. Camel spiders on the body and limbs have a rare hairline.

Quite remarkable is their vision. The phalanx has a scorpion eye structure: one pair is located in front and one more eye on the sides. Moreover, they are all complex, distinguish between light and respond to movement. And as a result - an excellent response 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 remarkable feature of the phalanges is their large strong chelicera, which are able to bite through not only the skin, but even the nail of a person. Each chelicera consists of two parts connected by a joint and looks very much like a crab claw. With their help, spiders cut feathers and wool from the body of their victim, which subsequently cover the bottom of their nests.

Characteristic:

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

Hunter spider or giant crab spider

The sight of this huge spider involuntarily raises the question of 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 his paws reaches 25 cm, and the spikes located on them make his appearance even more intimidating. Plus, the legs of this spider are quite unusual in shape - they are curved like a crab. Thus, it was 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 crevices in the 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, representatives of certain species may have reddish or black-and-white spots;
• thorns are on the legs;
• the trunk is pubescent.

Lasiodora parahybana or Brazilian orange-pink tarantula spider

This species of tarantula spider 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 painted dark brown or black, which in some places can turn gray.

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

The main giant of the spider world

Goliath tarantula

It is this representative of the species of tarantulas that is recognized as the largest spider in the world. Due to the presence of two-centimeter fangs, the goliath tarantula looks quite frightening. The paw span of an adult reaches about 27-28 cm, and the body weight is about 170 g. It only attacks when it feels threatened. In addition, with a bite, he does not always inject his toxic secret, but even if this happens, then he is not particularly dangerous for a person.

The goliath tarantula lives in tropics of South America. He builds housing for himself - tears a half-meter-long mink and covers it with a kind of door from his own web. The life span of females is about 25 years, males are allocated by nature a much shorter amount of time - no more than 6 years.

For hunting, the galliaf tarantula does not use the web. He waits for his victim in a secluded place and, as she approaches, makes a rapid leap. The tarantula digs into the prey with its long chelicera 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, frogs, mice, lizards and even small snakes are included in his diet.

South Russian Tarantula

Considering the largest arachnids of the planet, I would also like to mention the largest spider that lives in Russia. Such is south russian tarantula: the body length of females is about 3 cm, males - no more than 2.5 cm. In comparison with the above described individuals, of course, it looks quite small.

Areas 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 cobwebs. When prey appears in his field of vision, he immediately jumps out of his hiding place and catches it. As a rule, a signal for an attack is a shadow hanging over a mink.

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

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