Goliath Birdeater (Theraphosa blondi)

The Goliath birdeater spider is a member of the tarantula family and calls the southern part of North America home. Holding the title of the world’s largest spider by size and mass, they only fall second in leg span to the giant huntsman spider. Ready to discover amazing facts about them? Keep reading!

Scientific Classification

• Family: Theraphosidae
• Genus: Theraphosa
• Scientific name: Theraphosa blondi

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

• Size: They are approximately 11.9 cm (4.7 inches) in length with a leg span of about 30 cm (12 inches). These spiders are also heavily built with a weight close to 175 grams, the females being larger in size than males.
• Color: They have a light or dark brown body with faint markings on the legs.
• Other Characteristic Features: They are among the few species belonging to the tarantula family which does not have the tibial spurs present on the legs (first pair) of most of the adult males.

Eggs

The female lays between 100 and 200 eggs which resemble the size of a tennis ball.

Spiderlings

They hatch after 6 to 8 weeks and disperse within a short span.

The Web

Not much information is obtained in this regard as they do not capture prey with their webs, instead, they use venom and strength for this purpose.

Are Goliath Birdeater Tarantula Venomous?

Yes, Goliath Birdeater Tarantulas are venomous. They use their venom primarily to subdue their prey.

Can Goliath Birdeater Tarantula Bite?

Yes, Goliath Birdeater Tarantulas can bite. While their venom is not lethal to humans, a bite can be painful due to the spider’s large fangs.

Quick Facts

Other Names	Goliath Bird-eating spider
Distribution	Rainforest belt in the northern part of South America including areas of Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, southern Venezuela, and Northern Brazil
Habitat	Deep burrows, mostly in swampy or marshy regions
Diet	Frogs, rodents, toads, snakes, earthworms, and lizards
Predators	Humans, mammals, tarantula hawk
Lifespan	Males: 3 to 6 years Females: 15 to 25 years
IUCN Conservation Status	Not Known

Did You Know

• Though known as the bird eater or bird-eating spider, they are rarely known to prey upon birds.
• Their population is stable, however, according to biologists, they could be at risk of being endangered in the near future.
• The Goliath Birdeater and Giant Huntsman spider are both large in size though the latter has longer legs than the former.

Image Credits: Sciencenetlinks.com, Media.mnn.com, I.imgur.com, Live.staticflickr.com, 2static.fjcdn.com