Spiders in Panama

The variety of spiders and other creepy crawlies in Panama is astounding. It is not surprising though because Panama is strategically located in the central part of America making it a biodiverse region. It is rich in natural parks where you can find enormous wildlife. Even the most seasoned wildlife lovers might be impressed by the vast variety of spiders in Panama. Some of the most amazing and massive varieties of arachnids can be found in abundance in the country’s tropical rainforests. One spider species in Panama that is widely recognized is the tarantula. In fact, some people keep them as pets, after all, tarantulas are regarded as gentle giants. However, you also need to be wary as there are dangerous species such as the notorious black widow. Keep your distance if you come across one in the jungles because some are harmful to humans due to biting and other things.

Spiders in Panama Identification Chart

Common Spiders in Panama

Biggest Spiders in Panama

Most Venomous Spiders

Cobweb Spiders/Tangle Web Spiders (Theridiidae)

Widow (Latrodectus) - Meet the Latrodectus spiders, often known as true widows! They're part of the cobweb spider family. By July 2017, there were 31 types of them, living everywhere except Antarctica.… Continue Reading >

Tarantula

• Panama Blonde Tarantula – Psalmopoeus pulcher

Sicariidae

Brown Recluse Spider (Loxosceles reclusa) - The brown recluse spider is a special spider found mostly in the central and southern parts of the U.S. It's part of a small group of spiders in North America known for having strong venom, along with the Chilean recluse and black widow.… Continue Reading >

Less Venomous Spiders

Tarantula

• Panama Red Rump Tarantula – Sericopelma rubronitens
• Costa Rican Orange Mouth Tarantula – Psalmopoeus reduncus

Jumping Spiders

Gray Wall Jumping (Menemerus bivittatus) - Did you know there's a spider called the Gray wall jumper? It belongs to the Salticidae family and is found in warm tropical places in both the north and south.… Continue Reading >

Emerald Jumping Spider (Paraphidippus aurantius) - Discover the emerald jumping spider, also known as Paraphidippus aurantius. Found everywhere from the United States to Panama and even the Greater Antilles in the Caribbean Sea, these spiders stand out due to their size, being notably larger than many other jumping spiders.… Continue Reading >

• Sylvan Jumping Spider – Colonus sylvanus

Lynx (Oxyopidae)

Green Lynx (Peucetia viridans) - The Green Lynx is a big, bright green spider that lives in some areas of the Americas. Sometimes people mix it up with other similar-looking spiders from Africa and India such as Peucetia.… Continue Reading >

Orb-weaver (Araneidae)

Tropical Orb-weaver (Eriophora ravilla) - The tropical orb-weaver is a fascinating spider from the Eriophora genus, part of the Araneidae family. You'll often find it in many areas of the United States.… Continue Reading >

Arrow-shaped Micrathena (Micrathena sagittata) - The Arrow-shaped micrathena spider has a unique arrow-shaped tummy, which is why it's named that way! This spider is part of the orb-weaver family and lives mainly in the eastern United States and Central America.… Continue Reading >

Golden Silk Orb-Weaver (Nephila) - Have you ever seen a spider's web that shines like gold? Meet the Golden Silk Orb-Weaver! With 23 different types living around the world, they're known for their special golden webs.… Continue Reading >

Cobweb Spiders/Tangle Web Spiders (Theridiidae)

Arrowhead (Verrucosa arenata) - Imagine spiders weaving beautiful webs! They're called arrowhead spiders and mostly live in the New World. Their fancy name, Verrucosa, means 'warty' and arenata means 'sand' in a language called Latin.… Continue Reading >