15 Largest Spiders in the World

Photo by George Chernilevsky – Wikimedia Commons

Scientists claim that there are over 40,000 species of spiders in the world with their specific abilities. Some have huge venomous fangs or jumping ability, whereas others have better silk production or camouflage potential. Today, let us look at the top 15 largest spiders in the world.

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Goliath Birdeater (Theraphosa blondi)

This spider belongs to the Tarantula family and is found in South America. It is one of the largest spiders in the world, with a mass of 175 grams and a body length of nearly 13 cm. Their life cycle is around 15-25 years for females and 6 years for males. Their main food source is worms and amphibians; they hardly prey on birds.

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Huntsman Spider (Heteropoda maxima)

With its yellowish-brown color, this spider is the largest spider in the world by leg span, with a length of up to 12 inches. It is found in Laos. Despite its large size, it is harmless to humans and hunts at night.

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Brazilian Wandering Spider (Phoneutria spp.)

As the name suggests, this species is found in Brazil. They wander on the land in the jungle at night in search of prey. During the day, they hide under the rocks or inside the tree wood. Due to their venom, they are a significant threat to humans.

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Camel Spider (Solifugae)

They are not considered true spiders, but they come into conversation when talking about large spiders. This species is known for its high speed and adaptive nature in the desert. They do not have any venomous glands, and they prey mainly on lizards, bugs, and rodents.

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Golden Silk Orb-Weaver (Nephila spp.)

These spiders are found in the warm regions of Asia and America. Golden silk spiders are known to build large orb webs that are sticky and wheel-shaped. Talking about their size, females have leg spans of up to 6 inches.

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Sydney Funnel-Web Spider (Atrax robustus)

These spiders are found in Australia, specifically in the 100km radius within Sydney. These spiders have giant venomous sacs. The males grow to 25 mm long, whereas females grow to 35 mm. They are harmful to humans as occasionally they stick to the skin of humans and insert venom inside the body.

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Brazilian Salmon Pink Birdeater (Lasiodora parahybana)

They are generally known as Brazilian Salmon Pink birdeaters, which are found in Brazil. Their legs grow up to 10 inches; despite their size, they are classified as calm. However, when they get disturbed, they go into chaos mode.

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Gooty Sapphire Ornamental Tarantula (Poecilotheria metallica)

These radiant blue hues tarantula species are generally found in India and Sri Lanka. They are faster than the most basic tarantula species worldwide and have huge venomous sacs. They have magnificent patterns on their abdomen and live inside the tree hollows.

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Malaysian Earth Tiger Tarantula (Cyriopagopus schioedtei)

These Earth-Tiger Lurks are found in Malaysian jungles. They construct burrows in subterranean regions and have a large size with a leg span stretching to 22 cm in length. Like many tarantula species, these are also fast-moving and aggressive.

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King Baboon Spider (Pelinobius muticus)

King Baboon Spider is found in Africa. They have unique appearances and unusual behaviors. Their body color is generally rusty brown or orange. For beginners, this could be a lovely pet as people from different continents have them at their homes.

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Mexican Redknee Tarantula (Brachypelma hamorii)

Mexican Redknee Tarantula is found in Mexico. It is a unique species different from the usual tarantulas. With vibrant coloration and silk-lined burrows, it is classified as a polite combination of beauty and strength. They are generally docile, which makes them a beginner-friendly pet. They are poisonous, but they can be easily cured.

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Indian Ornamental Tarantula (Poecilotheria regalis)

Indian Ornamental Tarantula is found in the forests of India. This species is adorned with intricate patterns and vibrant colors. High in the trees, it spins its silken webs. It blends seamlessly with the rich diversity of its environment, making it a great camouflage species.

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Colombian Lesserblack Tarantula (Xenesthis immanis)

The Lesserblack Tarantula is found in the landscapes of Colombia. This species is a symbol of strength and adaptability. Their body grows to 6-7 cm, whereas their width widens to 19-22 cm. It lives within silk-lined burrows and leaves a strong remark of adaptability in nature. It is generally found that they grow a good relationship with the microhylid frog Chiasmocleis ventrimaculata.

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Purple Bloom Birdeater (Pamphobeteus vespertinus)

The Purple Bloom Birdeater is found in Venezuela. This tarantula species has a glorifying purple hue. They grow up to 18-22 cm in size. Their primary attack is to shoot tiny barbed hairs on their body to irritate the predators. Although poisonous, they are not very harmful to humans.

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Brazilian Black Tarantula (Grammostola pulchra)

The Brazilian Black Tarantula, also known for its velvety black appearance, is found in Brazil. They generally grow up to 6-7 inches. However, females grow much larger than males. Not only on the abdomen, but even their legs are covered with spiky hairs. However, they are not considered very aggressive compared to general Tarantula species.