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The Goliath birdeater (Theraphosa blondi) belongs to the tarantula family Theraphosidae.Found in northern South America, it is the largest spider in the world by mass (175 g (6.2 oz)) and body length (up to 13 cm (5.1 in)), and second to the giant huntsman spider by leg span. [1]
The longest leg (the fourth) in a male had a total length of 110 mm (4.3 in). Coloration of these heavy-bodied spiders varies from rusty brown or rich burgundy-brown to dark brown, with reddish setae on legs and abdomen and white lines on the legs. Adult males lack mating spurs or tibial apophyses.
Despite the sometimes used common names bird-eating spider and bird spider, this nocturnal ground dwelling species is not likely to ever encounter or feed on birds. These spiders predominantly feed upon invertebrates including insects and other spiders. Small vertebrates such as geckos, skinks and frogs are also part of the diet. [citation needed]
Wolf spider. What they look like: With over 200 species of wolf spiders crawling around, it’s no wonder that they range in size and appearance.“The largest species can be up to an inch and a ...
Maria Sibylla Merian's illustration of a spider eating a bird, bottom left corner.Published 1705 after a research expedition in Dutch Surinam. The genus Avicularia was erected in 1818 by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck for species previously placed in Mygale Latreille, 1802, the genus name used at the time for most mygalomorph spiders.
The Goliath birdeater (Theraphosa blondi) is reputed to be an avivore (hence the name), but it rarely preys on birds. [5] [6] However, other species of spider have been observed to consume birds that they capture; large orb-weaving spiders, such as the golden orbweavers, have been observed to consume small birds such as mannikin and other finches.
A spider could also simply climb into someone's mouth. But Rod Crawford, arachnid curator at the Burke Museum, said "spiders probably find sleeping humans terrifying" because we "create vibrations ...
Spider cannibalism is the act of a spider consuming all or part of another individual of the same species as food. It is most commonly seen as an example of female sexual cannibalism where a female spider kills and eats a male before, during, or after copulation. Cases of non-sexual cannibalism or male cannibalism of females both occur but are ...