There are some nasty spiders in the United States, but most of them can be caught with an upturned cup and a piece of paper. That isn’t the case with the Goliath bird-eating spider from South America. The tarantula is the world’s largest spider, with a leg span of over a foot and a weight of more than a third of a pound as reported by Mental Floss.
Arachnid feasting
The Goliath birdeater takes its name from an 18th-century engraving depicting a relative of the arachnid feasting on a hummingbird, according to National Geographic. They almost never consume birds in actuality. Insects are their preferred food, though they have been known to eat frogs, mice, and lizards on occasion.
Theraphosa blondi, which weighs more than some newborn puppies at 6 ounces, doesn’t need to weave webs to catch larger prey. It pounces on its prey and injects neurotoxins into them with its huge fangs. The venom liquefies the insides of the creature, allowing the spider to easily slurp up the nutrition.
Largest spider
The Goliath birdeater is the largest spider on the planet, although it pales in comparison to other jungle predators. The species has evolved a defence system that uses the bristles that cover its body to protect itself. When threatened, the tarantula rubs its rear legs against its belly, blasting barbed hairs into the air and hurting the eyes, mouth, and skin of anyone unfortunate enough to be nearby.
Although neither a bite nor a hair-missile attack from T. blondi would cause substantial harm to a human, we nevertheless advise avoiding the jungles of Venezuela, northern Brazil, Guyana, French Guiana, and Suriname if you’re arachnophobic.
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Source: Mental Floss
