Phoneutria nigriventer is a spider endemic to South America. It is commonly referred to as a “Brazilian wandering spider” – a name shared with several others in its genus.
Size: 5 cm
Color: They have a brown body.
Other Characteristic Features: If these spiders feel threatened, they will raise their first two pairs of limbs as a warning.
After mating, around 100 eggs are laid inside a sac made of webbing.
Once the juveniles are old enough to leave the sac, they become capable of hunting prey by themselves. They will frequently molt until they reach adulthood.
As wandering spiders, they do not construct webs to catch prey.
While a bite from these spiders is not fatal, their venom causes several symptoms in humans. These include cardiac and pulmonary issues, long-lasting erections, and convulsions.
| Lifespan | 1-2 years |
| Distribution | Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay |
| Habitat | Commonly spotted in banana trees and foliage, also in urban environments. |
| Diet | Bats, crickets, katydids, lizards, mantids, and tree frogs |
Image Source: live.staticflickr.com
Phoneutria nigriventer is a spider endemic to South America. It is commonly referred to as a “Brazilian wandering spider” – a name shared with several others in its genus.
Phoneutria nigriventer
Size: 5 cm
Color: They have a brown body.
Other Characteristic Features: If these spiders feel threatened, they will raise their first two pairs of limbs as a warning.
After mating, around 100 eggs are laid inside a sac made of webbing.
Once the juveniles are old enough to leave the sac, they become capable of hunting prey by themselves. They will frequently molt until they reach adulthood.
As wandering spiders, they do not construct webs to catch prey.
While a bite from these spiders is not fatal, their venom causes several symptoms in humans. These include cardiac and pulmonary issues, long-lasting erections, and convulsions.
| Lifespan | 1-2 years |
| Distribution | Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay |
| Habitat | Commonly spotted in banana trees and foliage, also in urban environments. |
| Diet | Bats, crickets, katydids, lizards, mantids, and tree frogs |
Image Source: live.staticflickr.com
