Buzz
Recently, a woman in Tasmania stumbled upon a colossal huntsman spider feasting on a pygmy possum at a lodge in Mount Field National Park. This shockingly large spider was at least the size of an adult's hand, and it’s just one of many giant spiders that exist. These massive arachnids are far too big to be dealt with using a shoe or a rolled-up magazine. They’re guaranteed to haunt your dreams—whether you fear spiders or not.
1. Poecilotheria rajaei
Ranil Nanayakkara/British Tarantula Society, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY 3.0Discovered in northern Sri Lanka in 2013, this tarantula species boasts an impressive 8-inch leg span—about the size of a human face! Belonging to the arboreal tiger spider group native to India and Sri Lanka, P. rajaei stands out due to the unique patterns on its legs and abdomen. A deceased male specimen was first handed to researchers by a villager in 2009, and subsequent surveys uncovered enough females and juveniles to confirm it as a new species. “They are quite rare,” said Ranil Nanayakkara, co-founder of Sri Lanka’s Biodiversity Education and Research, in an interview with WIRED. “They thrive in old, established trees, but deforestation has reduced their numbers, forcing them to seek shelter in abandoned buildings.” The species was named in honor of a police officer who assisted scientists in exploring its habitat.
2.
Theraphosa blondi
universoaracnido, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 2.5Despite its name, the Goliath bird-eating spider (Theraphosa blondi) rarely consumes birds. The name originated when an explorer observed one feasting on a hummingbird, but its diet primarily includes insects, frogs, and rodents. However, this fact might not ease your fears, as this spider can span nearly a foot in leg length—comparable to a dinner plate—and weigh up to 6 ounces, making it the heaviest spider globally. Its inch-long fangs can pierce human skin, though its venom isn’t lethal to humans. Native to South America, this spider produces a hissing sound by rubbing its leg bristles together, audible from up to 15 feet away.
3. Heteropoda maxima
Petra & Wilifried, Flickr // CC BY 2.0If you needed another excuse to steer clear of dark caves, here it is: The giant huntsman spider, discovered in a Laotian cave in 2011, boasts a staggering 12-inch leg span. This spider is one of over 1000 huntsman species, known for their incredible speed and crab-like legs that extend forward, allowing them to swiftly chase down prey.
4. Golden silk orb-weavers
Toby Hudson, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 3.0Belonging to the genus Nephila, these spiders have a formidable ancestor: the largest fossilized spider ever discovered. Found worldwide, female golden silk orb-weavers can reach leg spans of up to 6 inches (with males being smaller). While they typically feed on large insects, some in Australia have been photographed consuming snakes and birds ensnared in their massive, 5-foot-wide webs.
5. Phoneutria nigriventer
While the nearly 6-inch leg span of Phoneutria nigriventer is intimidating, its venom is what truly sets it apart as one of the most fearsome spiders. This neurotoxin can be lethal to humans, making it, along with P. fera, the most venomous spider on the planet (though an effective antivenom is available). Found in Central and South America, it’s often called the Brazilian wandering spider due to its nighttime forest wanderings, and the banana spider because it hides in banana plants by day and occasionally hitches rides in fruit shipments. When provoked, it raises its front legs and sways defensively, as shown in the video above.
This story originally appeared in 2013.
