A spider is one of the scariest creatures on Earth. Anyone suffering from arachnophobia will confirm this. You might say: what could be scary about such a small creature? And I will answer you with a question: “What small creature?” Look at the largest spider in the world, which is in first place in this rating, and find out where he lives so you can plan your vacation away from there.
10. Tegenaria wall
- body 3 cm, leg span 14 cm
Where it lives: in the desert dunes of Wadi al-Arab in southern Israel and Jordan.
This is the smallest representative of arachnids in our selection, and one of the largest spiders on Earth.
Dehydration and sunburn aren't the only dangers you'll face if you find yourself in the hot sand dunes of the Wadi al-Arab desert. After all, this is home to the largest huntsman spider in the Middle East. It makes its lair in the sand and comes out to do its work at night. Scientists don't think the wall spider is particularly poisonous, but no one has tested that hypothesis.
9. Brazilian wandering spider
- body 10 cm, leg span 7 cm
Where it lives: in South and Central America.
Not the biggest spider on the list, but the most dangerous. This furry banana lover even made it into the 2010 Guinness Book of Records as the most venomous spider in the world. Guinness doesn't have a category for the most aggressive spiders, otherwise the Brazilian spider would have made it. In this regard, it is very close to the most venomous snake in the world, which is also not known for its meek character.
When there are no bananas nearby, the eight-legged Brazilian eats mice, lizards and large insects. To kill a 20-gram mouse, the spider only needs to inject 6 mcg of poison intravenously and 134 mcg subcutaneously. For comparison: the black widow needs 110 mcg and 200 mcg of poison, respectively, for the same purpose.
The Brazilian wandering spider's venom is very dangerous and can kill a person in two hours. It can also cause a four-hour, painful erection in men. So in the future, this dangerous arthropod may serve science as a treatment for erectile dysfunction.
8. Camel spider
- body 5-7 cm, leg span 12-15 cm
Where it lives: Any warm desert area. You are safe (from this spider) in Australia. It has never been seen in Antarctica, if that helps.
This spider, also known as the solpuga, got its unofficial name because it eats camels for breakfast. Don't believe it? You're right. It's nicknamed "camel" for the "humps" on its head. According to other information, when frightened, the spider jumps high enough to grab whatever is above it with its powerful chelicerae (jaws). In the desert, that something is often a camel's groin.
The jaws of the solpuga are so strong that they can even pierce a human fingernail. In the video of the largest spiders in the world, solpuga look the most menacing, especially if you look at their jaw from the side. It clearly shows the teeth and cutting edge.
The good news is that this spider is not poisonous. The bad news is that if it bites you, rotting food remains may get into the wound, which can lead to serious inflammation.
7. Hercules baboon
- body size from 7 to 9 cm, leg span up to 20 cm
Where it lives: In African countries such as Niger, Benin, Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria.
The only known specimen of the Hercules baboon was captured in Nigeria about a hundred years ago and is housed in the Natural History Museum in London. It got its name from its habit of eating baboons (just kidding). In fact, this spider is named for the resemblance between its legs and the toes of a baboon. Since no one has seen this spider for a long time, it is assumed that it has disappeared from the face of the Earth. A more optimistic version is that it may live underground, away from human eyes.
A close relative of the Hercules baboon, the king baboon spider (Pelinobius muticus) lives in East Africa, and another related subfamily, the Harpactirinae, is famous for its aggressive and unpredictable behavior and potent venom.
6. Ornamental tarantula-rajay
- body 8 cm, limb span up to 20 cm
Habitat: In old trees or old buildings in Sri Lanka and India.
Tarantulas are not limited to Central and South America. A huge tarantula the size of a human face has adapted to deforestation in Sri Lanka and has moved into abandoned buildings. It likes to eat birds, lizards, rodents, and even snakes.
This species was discovered relatively recently, in 2009. And its name Poecilotheria rajaei was given in honor of police officer Michael Rajakumar Purajah, who guarded the scientists during their expedition.
5. Columbian giant tarantula
- body 8 cm, leg span up to 20 cm
Where it lives: in the tropical forests of Brazil and Colombia.
This representative of the tarantula family feeds on mice, lizards and large insects, so you can use it to control household pests. It is rarely imported to Russia, and any arachnophile collector dreams of getting hold of this handsome Colombian.
This species has spines on its hind legs, which the spider uses to attack and fight off enemies. It is not aggressive towards humans, but can bite if necessary. The venom of the Colombian giant tarantula is not lethal, but there is a risk of an allergic reaction. In short, it is not the most suitable pet.
4. Brazilian Black Tarantula
- body 16-18 cm, leg span 7-10 cm
Where he lives: in Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina.
Don't forget to visit South America if you're looking for giant spiders. Grammostola anthracina is a species of tarantula that is very popular due to its beautiful black "fur" with a metallic sheen. It is unlikely to bite you, unless you remember to feed it cockroaches or crickets. However, the long hairs on the legs and body of the Brazilian tarantula can cause irritation when in contact with human skin.
3. Horse spider
- body 8-10 cm, leg span up to 25 cm
Where it lives: In the forests of Brazil. It is a popular pet, so you may see them in pet stores and maybe in your neighbor's apartment.
The third largest spider in the world easily breeds in captivity and is considered docile. However, if provoked, the horse spider can bite, not too dangerously, but quite painfully. These animals also have a "cute" habit of scratching off their stinging hairs when in danger. Therefore, do not bring the spider close to your eyes.
2. Giant Huntsman Spider
- body 4.6 cm, leg span from 25 to 30 cm
Where it lives: Only in the caves of Laos, but similar huge huntsman spiders live in all warm and moderately warm regions of the planet.
While the Goliath bird-eater (number one on the list) is considered the heaviest spider on Earth, the giant huntsman spider has longer legs. Their span reaches from 25 to 30 centimeters.
These spiders are dangerous not only to their natural enemies, but also to humans. Their bite may require hospitalization. If you live in a warm climate and hear a rhythmic ticking sound, similar to the ticking of a quartz watch, know that a male Heteropoda maxima is nearby. And unless you are a female giant spider, you better run.
1. Goliath tarantula
- body 10.4 cm, leg span up to 28 cm
Where it lives: in burrows in tropical forests and swamps of northern South America.
Here it is, the largest spider in the world. In the photo it looks scary, and not without reason. The Goliath bird-eater is a type of tarantula. Theraphos blondi can bite a person with its huge fangs (1-2 cm), and its venom is comparable in pain and overall effect to wasp venom.
The prickly hairs of this giant "fluffball" pose a major threat, as they can remain on a person's skin and eyes, causing itching and irritation for several days.
One Theraphosa blondi was even lucky enough to make it into the Guinness Book of Records as the largest representative of its species. The leg span of this specimen, caught in Venezuela in 1965, was 28 centimeters.
As the name suggests, this spider sometimes eats small birds, such as hummingbirds. But it can also turn from a hunter into a tasty prey. People who live in the habitat of the Goliath birdeater catch and eat them (they say they taste like shrimp).
And finally, an interesting fact: Male spiders have specialized appendages that are used to create sounds for defense and sexual communication. The largest spiders produce sounds loud enough for humans to hear. So if you hear a strange sound in the night, there may be a sexually horny spider nearby.
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