The Giant Huntsman spider is said to be the largest spider of the world in accordance to leg span, being indigenous to the Laos region. It is even one of the fastest spiders since it is known to hunt down preys actively.
Size: They are huge in size, being the largest of the spiders belonging to the Sparassidae family. Their body length is about 4.6 cm (1.8 inches), while their legs pan is 30 cm (12 inches) long. The females are characteristically larger than their male counterparts.
Color: They have a yellowish-brown body, with dark spots distributed in an irregular fashion all over. Their legs are mostly banded with markings of brown or gray.
Other characteristics: Their legs are longer than their body twisting forward similar to that of a crab. The males and females are also different from one another when it comes to genital features as the cymbium of the latter is thrice longer than its tegulum.
The eggs remain enclosed in an oval sac and about 200 of them may be laid.
The juvenile spiders have a pale body that gets darker with every molt.
Though large and hairy, spiders of this species are not dangerous and may rarely bite humans perhaps when provoked. Their bites are however painful causing localized pain, redness and swelling.
| Distribution | Laos, as well as other parts of Asia; also found in Australia, Africa and parts of America like Texas, Florida, and California |
| Habitat | In entrances of caves, on dead trees and their stump |
| Diet | Insects and other invertebrates as well as geckos and small skinks |
| Predators | Birds, geckoes, flies, and wasps |
| Lifespan | Approximately 2 years |
Image Credits: Cdnph.upi.com, Images.earthtouchnews.com, I.pinimg.com, Rateeveryanimal.com, Chartnumber.club
The Giant Huntsman spider is said to be the largest spider of the world in accordance to leg span, being indigenous to the Laos region. It is even one of the fastest spiders since it is known to hunt down preys actively.
Size: They are huge in size, being the largest of the spiders belonging to the Sparassidae family. Their body length is about 4.6 cm (1.8 inches), while their legs pan is 30 cm (12 inches) long. The females are characteristically larger than their male counterparts.
Color: They have a yellowish-brown body, with dark spots distributed in an irregular fashion all over. Their legs are mostly banded with markings of brown or gray.
Other characteristics: Their legs are longer than their body twisting forward similar to that of a crab. The males and females are also different from one another when it comes to genital features as the cymbium of the latter is thrice longer than its tegulum.
The eggs remain enclosed in an oval sac and about 200 of them may be laid.
The juvenile spiders have a pale body that gets darker with every molt.
Though large and hairy, spiders of this species are not dangerous and may rarely bite humans perhaps when provoked. Their bites are however painful causing localized pain, redness and swelling.
| Distribution | Laos, as well as other parts of Asia; also found in Australia, Africa and parts of America like Texas, Florida, and California |
| Habitat | In entrances of caves, on dead trees and their stump |
| Diet | Insects and other invertebrates as well as geckos and small skinks |
| Predators | Birds, geckoes, flies, and wasps |
| Lifespan | Approximately 2 years |
Image Credits: Cdnph.upi.com, Images.earthtouchnews.com, I.pinimg.com, Rateeveryanimal.com, Chartnumber.club
