10 of the World’s Largest Spiders

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We share this world with a lot of types of spiders and some of them are unbelievably (like horror movie) big.

Take a look at our list of the world’s largest spiders, starting from the smallest of the largest, all the way to the winning monster-sized, biggest spider in the world.

The smallest, but still large, spider on our list is the black and white Cerbalus Aravensis spider, which was discovered in Israel in 2009. It has a leg span of 5.5-inches and lives underground where it peaks out ready to jump on unsuspecting prey. Stay out of the Israeli sand dunes at night because this is when the Cerbalus Aravensis likes to hunt.

The Brazilian Wandering spider isn’t the world’s biggest spider with it’s 5.9-inch leg span, but it does have one of the deadliest venoms. This spider’s venom rarely kills humans, but its bite will make you writhe in pain. You don’t have to go to Brazil to find this venomous spider either; one was found in the Whole Food’s produce apartment in Oklahoma. It had snuck into the country and health food store by riding on a banana. Watch out, this spider likes to hide in shoes.

Did You Know? The Brazilian wandering spider is not a Tarantula. Brazilian wandering spiders are not even in the same family group. Tarantulas are harmless to humans and are mostly ambush killers who wait for prey to come to them. Brazilian wandering spiders are active hunters. Brazilian wandering spiders and Tarantulas do have one thing in common, however, they do not eat bananas.

Myth surrounds the Camel spider. People claim these spiders eat camels and humans, but really they do neither. They do probably scare both though. The Camel spider is also called the Scorpion spider because it’s related to both spiders and scorpions, and it looks a little like both. If that isn’t scary enough, they’re also 6-inches long.

The Hercules Baboon spider is the rarest spider in the world. This huge spider has an 8-inch leg span, but don’t let that scare you, because none of these spiders have been seen since the year 1900. So don’t be fooled by those pet stores that try to pass off other spiders as the rare Hercules Baboon. Despite its name, the Hercules doesn’t eat baboons. It prefers to feast on insects.

Did You Know? Due to its rarity, it is one of the most highly sought out arachnids, especially in the pet trade. It is widely regarded that most of the specimens sold as Hercules baboon spiders are actually the smaller king baboon spider

The Colombian Giant Black tarantula — with the less pronounceable scientific name of Xenesthis monstrosa — can have a leg span of up to 9.1-inches. Its mostly black in color, but has brownish hairs and some reddish markings. This species is an extremely aggressive eater, but is harmless to humans, besides the scare factor. Like all tarantulas, these guys experience balding in the thorax area in their senior years.

Native to Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina, the Brazilian Giant Tawny Red is a spider that is among one of the biggest in the world. It can have a leg span of up to 10.2-inches. Don’t think your safe from this beast if you live elsewhere, because it is also found as a pet worldwide.

Did You Know? Unlike most spiders who suffer from parental abandonment, its mother actually sticks around to help it break free from the egg sack.

The Poecilotheria Rajaei spider has been recently discovered in Sri Lanka 2009. This spider has an 8-inch leg span and has a pinkish-gray band on its abdomen. These spiders like to live in fallen trees, rocks and inside people’s homes. Think about that before visiting Sri Lanka.

Despite the name, the Brazilian Salmon Pink Birdeater spider doesn’t eat birds. It instead feasts on insects, lizards, frogs and mice. This spider lives in the rainforest and has a 10-inch leg span. It has a brown body with salmon-pink hairs that it shoots at its prey to disable them. Then it pounces on its prey and spits digestive juices on it, pre-digesting the victim before sucking it up.

Did You Know? There are no known specific threats to the Brazilian salmon pink tarantula. However, it inhabits the Atlantic forest which is under severe threat from deforestation as a result of illegal logging, land conversion to pasture, agriculture, and forest plantations, and the expansion of urban areas

The Huntsman spider is really big. Its body can reach 1-foot long and its leg span can get up to 6-inches long. This spider is native to Asia, but can also be found in subtropical areas of Florida, Texas and California. The spiders traveled into the U.S. by hitching a ride on bananas, which is why their also called Banana spiders. Yuck, watch out next time you eat an imported banana. The creepiest factor about the Huntsman is that they are really fast, can walk sideways and can scurry up perfectly smooth surfaces, such as window glass, without a problem.

The largest spider in the world is the Goliath Bird-Eating tarantula. Yes, as the name suggests, this spider is large enough to eat birds, and it does. Yikes! The Goliath can reach up to 1-foot in body length and has 1-inch long fangs. It’s considered bigger than the Huntsman Spider because it has a heavier body mass. The Goliath has tiny hairs on its body that it shoots at whoever or whatever is threatening it. Its bite isn’t deadly to humans (unless you’re allergic), but if you get bit by one, expect to experience severe pain, nausea and profuse sweating.

Did You Know? The Goliath Bird-Eating tarantula's natural habitat is in the rainforests of South America, but they can be found as pets around the world. If you hear a hissing noise, watch out. The Goliath rubs its legs together to make this frightening noise and it can be heard up to 15-feet away.

Reading this list of the world’s biggest spiders may have left you feeling creeped out, but you have to admit these humongous creatures are interesting. Besides, they may be big, but you’re even bigger.

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