What Is the Goliath Tarantula?

The Goliath tarantula is known as the world's largest species of hairy spider. The Goliath tarantula received its name from Victorian-era explorers when they encountered one during an expedition of South America. They witnessed the arachnid eating a hummingbird.

  1. Goliath Tarantula

    • The Goliath tarantula (genus: Theraphosa; species: blondi), or Goliath bird-eating spider as it's commonly known, lives in northern South America.

    Size and Appearance

    • The Goliath tarantula can weigh up to 2.5 ounces, and has a leg span of 12 inches. Since it is a spider it has four pairs of legs, a head and neck (or cephalothorax) and an abdomen, all of which is covered in small hairs used for sensing prey.

    Habitat

    • The Goliath tarantula can be found in wet swamps, and the marshes deep in the rainforest. They are burrowers, meaning that they make their home underground.

    Hunting and Prey

    • The Goliath tarantula is a nocturnal hunter, and attacks by pouncing on its victim, and injecting the prey with venom from its two fangs, causing paralysis, before dragging it back to its burrow to feed. The Goliath's size allows it to feed on birds, frogs, small snakes, insects, lizards, bats and pinky rats.

    Life Expectancy and Mating

    • Female Goliath tarantulas can live up to 25 years, while males die usually a year after mating. Males use mating hooks to restrain a female so that it will be safe to mate, and must leave immediately or the female will kill them. The female will lay about 50 eggs, and guards it until they hatch in six to seven weeks.

    Defenses

    • The Goliath spider has venom, which can be toxic to humans, and uses its hair as barbs that it can throw like tiny needles. They can also emit a loud hissing noise, and rear up on their hind legs.