The biggest tarantulas in the world, Goliath bird-eating spiders live in the deep rainforests of northern South America. Despite their intimidating name, they don't eat birds frequently.
The largest spider in the world is Theraphosa blondi, commonly known as the Goliath birdeater, according to National Geographic. This tarantula can reach up to 11 inches in length and weigh 6 ounces; this size is big enough to cover a dinner plate, says Guinness World Records.
The Goliath birdeater (Theraphosa blondi) belongs to the tarantula family Theraphosidae. Found in northern South America, it is the largest spider in the world by mass (175 g (6.2 oz)) and body length (up to 13 cm (5.1 in)), and second to the giant huntsman spider by leg span.
It's deadly to small creatures, but the Goliath's venom is not lethal to humans. A bite would sting about as much as a wasp's. The giant spider is a delicacy in some parts of South America—though its urticating hairs are carefully singed away before the spider is roasted in banana leaves.
The “goliath earthworm-eating spider” or “goliath toadeater” doesn't really inspire much awe. Although freakishly large for a spider, its venom is not dangerous to humans and feels much like a sting from a bee or wasp. Some of that pain is probably from the 1 ½ inch-long fangs cutting through the skin.
The Goliath bird-eating tarantula lives in the rainforest regions of northern South America, including Venezuela, northern Brazil, Guyana, French Guiana and Suriname. It lives in the deep rainforest, in silk-lined burrows and under rocks and roots.
What is the biggest spider in Australia? Australia's biggest spiders belong to the same family as the Goliath Spider. They are the whistling spiders. The northern species Selenocosmia crassipes can grow to 6 cm in body length with a leg span of 16 cm.
Tarantulas in Australia have often been called whistling, barking or bird-eating spiders because of the sounds most species can make. The whistling noise is most often produced when the spider is disturbed and takes up a threatening defensive pose. This may act as a deterrent against predators.
Male spiders actually produce vibrations, which hit surrounding dried leaves and cause them to vibrate. The vibrating leave produces a low "purring" sound audible to humans, and that sound travels. If it hits leaves near a female spider, causing them to vibrate, she can pick up on the vibrations.
“Hissing is kind of a misnomer,” Dill said. “What they do is actually called strigulation, like crickets do when they rub their legs together.” In the case of a wolf spider, it makes sound by rubbing its front legs together.
Belonging to the Symphytognathidae family, Patu digua is a fascinating species. Its male is petite, measuring only 0.43mm, making it the smallest known spider species.
A spider can be classified as huge according to its weight/mass or the overall length of its body. In this regard, the biggest spider in the world in terms of its weight is the Goliath Birdeater, while Giant Huntsman Spider is the biggest in terms of its length and appearance.
The huntsman spider, commonly found in Australia and other parts of the world, typically has a 1 inch (2.5 centimeter) body and a leg span of up to 5 inches (12.7 centimeters), though larger species can have a leg span of up to 12 inches (30 centimeters).
The species name crassipes is Latin for "fat leg" referring to the relatively fat front legs. Selenocosmia crassipes can attain legspans of up to 22 cm (8.7 in). Its body length, from eyes to the rear of its abdomen, measures between 6 and 9 cm (2.4 and 3.5 in), making it the largest Australian tarantula.
Sydney funnel-web spider. According to the Guinness World Records, the Sydney funnel-web spider, Atrax robustus, is the most dangerous spider to humans in the world.
The Australian funnel-web spiders (families Hexathelidae, Atracidae, Macrothelidae and Porrhothelidae), such as the Sydney funnel-web spider Atrax robustus (a mygalomorph spider not to be confused with the araneomorph funnel-weaver or grass spiders) are regarded as among the most venomous in the world.
Introduction. Wolf Spiders are found throughout Australia. They are robust, agile hunters that live on the ground in leaf litter or burrows.
Sydney Funnel Web Spider
Found nearly exclusively in Sydney, this spider is often considered the most deadly in the world. With fangs that can pierce through fingernails, and one specimen reaching 10cm stretched out, this spider is serious business. A single bite can kill a human in 15 minutes.
In Australia they are only found in the southeastern part of the country, from South Australia to Queensland via Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania. You won't find them in the dry and arid zones. On the other hand, huntsman and wolf-spiders are found all over the country.
Use natural oils such as peppermint or citrus spray
Spiders dislike the scent of peppermint, eucalyptus oil, tea-tree, or citrus. Thus, regularly spraying them down likely entrances deters them from coming in. Simply fill a standard spray bottle with water.
Researchers in Australia discovered a rare, giant species of trapdoor spider found only in Central Queensland. Its name, Euoplos dignitas, comes from the Latin word meaning dignity or greatness, "reflecting the impressive size and nature of the spider," the Queensland Museum said in a statement.
Identification. One of the best known Bird-dropping Spiders is Celaenia excavata. Other names for this spider are the Death's Head Spider, as its markings can also resemble the shape of a skull, and the Orchard Spider, because it is often seen on fruit trees where moths, its main source of food, may be abundant.
Australia has about 2,000 species of spider, but most are relatively harmless to humans. Venomous spiders in Australia include funnel-web, mouse, redback and white-tailed spiders. Since the introduction of antivenom, there have been no recorded deaths in Australia from a confirmed spider bite.
The giant huntsman spider is the largest member of the family Sparassidae, boasting a 30 cm (12 in) leg-span, and 4.6 cm (1.8 in) body-length. The largest known member of the Sparassidae known prior to the discovery of H. maxima was the Australian Beregama aurea (L.