Biggest Spider Species

Spiders are found on every continent. The British Arachnological Association claims that, without spiders, the world's agriculture would collapse, overrun by insects and other creatures. Yet some spiders seem to make their presence known more than others. The world contains some truly alarming, truly huge spiders.

  1. Goliath Bird-Eating Tarantula

    • This spider is native to South America, especially the rain forest regions, and can have a leg span of up to 12 inches. It is fairly harmless to humans, but most people are still afraid of its venomous inch-long fangs. It doesn't spin webs to capture its prey; rather it sneaks up on it, pounces and bites. It eats small birds, snakes, lizards, frogs, rodents and bats.

    Giant Huntsman

    • Also called a giant crab spider, these newly discovered Laotian arachnids are known for both their size and speed. They can grow up to 12 inches and stand a foot high when they stretch their legs. While they are generally non-aggressive, the females will act to protect their young if they are threatened. They usually eat insects, which they acquire by tracking and attacking from behind, not by spinning webs. Their bite, while painful, is not deadly to humans.

    Brazilian Salmon Pink Birdeater

    • Another rain-forest spider, this one can grow to have a leg span of 10 to 11 inches. They are brown with salmon pink hairs and thick, bulky legs. According to the St. Louis Zoo, they only occasionally eat small birds; their diet mostly consists of insects with a few frogs or lizards. They are venomous but have never been known to kill a human.

    Hercules Babboon

    • This spider attains a leg span of 8 to 10 inches. It likes to burrow under loose dirt, so it is more likely to be found under your feet than in a tree or a web. However, they are also comfortable in water and have been seen diving into water to attack and eat small fish. They also eat bugs, worms and small creatures such as frogs or lizards.