Giant Huntsman Spider
The Giant Huntsman spider is known to be the world’s largest spider per leg size, originating from the Laos region. Hunstman spider is even one of the fastest spiders since it is known to hunt down prey actively. A Giant huntsman spider is a member of the Sparassidae spider family.
Sparassidae spiders are particularly well-known for their giant size and mode of hunting. Giant huntsman spiders can bite humans by provoking them, but their bites are not known to be dangerous to humans(although they can be quite painful and have other side effects).
Giant Huntsman Spider Facts
| Size | 4.6 cm in length, leg span length is 30 cm |
| Color | Yellowish-brown body color with dark spots on body, legs have brown-gray marking |
| Diet | eat insects, geckos and small skinks |
| Lifespan | 2-3 years |
| Distribution | Found in Asia, Australia, Africa & United States |
Physical Appearance & Identification Traits
1. Size
Giant huntsman spiders are large compared to other spiders, being the largest spiders type belonging to the Sparassidae spider family. The Giant Hunstman spider’s body length is about 4.6 cm (1.8 inches), while its legs span is 30 cm (12 inches) long. The female spiders are characteristically larger than their male counterparts.
2. Color
Giant Huntsman spiders have a yellowish-brown body color. These spiders also contain dark spots distributed irregularly all over its body. Their legs have brown and grey markings.
3. Web
Adult Giant huntsman spiders do not build web but they rather hunt their prey.
4. Eggs
Giant Huntsman eggs remain enclosed in an oval sac, and they lay about 200 eggs. These female huntsman spiders place those eggs under a rock and guard over eggs without eating for 3 weeks. During the reproduction and mating period, female huntsman spiders are quite aggressive and will be defensive if provoked.
5. Other Characteristcs
Aside from the fact being giant, huntsman spiders are also fast and agile. Their ability to run and their size can be enough to instill even the bravest hearts with fear, but their speed also makes them master predators. Instead of preparing a web trap, huntsman spiders prefer jumping and stalking their prey. Their speed, agility through their lateral legs, and large, powerful size help them catch their prey, mainly large insects like crickets.
Lifespan
The average lifespan of a giant huntsman spider would be around 2-3 years or more.
Habitat
Giant Huntsman Spiders live under loose bark on trees, crevices on rock walls and logs, under rocks and slabs of bark on the ground, and foliage.
Preys and predators
Giant huntsman spiders like to eat insects, geckos and small skinks. They are food of birds and wasps.
Distribution
Giant huntsman spiders found in Laos, as well as other parts of Asia, Australia, Africa and parts of united states like Texas, Florida, and California.
Does Giant Huntsman Spiders Bite and If They’re Poisonous?
When talking about a giant huntsman spider bite. Plenty of times, a common question arises – is the giant huntsman spider poisonous? The answer will be no. Giant Huntsman spiders bites are not considered harmful. However, Huntsman spiders bites cause prolonged pain, inflammation, headache, vomiting, and irregular pulse rate. These are the usual side effects. A recent scientific study into the bite of these spiders did not note any severe or unusual symptoms resulting from confirmed bites. Treatment of giant huntsman spider bite is simple Clean the bite with water and disinfectant. Apply an ice pack to the bite area.