Imagine a spider as big as a child’s forearm and weighing as much as a puppy
The English name it Goliath birdeater (Goliath bird eater). Scientists consider it to be world's largest spider . Anyway, if you're arachnophobe, you shouldn't stay on this page long. His real name Theraphosa blondei better known as Spider Goliath or mygale of Leblond, this monster can reach the size of a puppy and have the legs extending up to 30 cm long. Originally from South America, the spider can weigh more than 170 grams and has 5 centimetre long crocs.
These are giant spiders have been appointed birdeaters (birds) because one of them was observed eating a hummingbird. However, they mainly feed on dirt and other insects. Don't worry, they are not mortal to humans , but their crocs can cause some pain, itching and a discomfort for days.
This species lives in the wet tropical forest and meets in Guyana, Brazil and Venezuela. Piotr Naskrecki , an entomologist and photographer at the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University, captured a female specimen in Guyana and is currently studying it in a museum. It was only a simple hike as can be done in this region. Piotr recalls that this is very rare:
I have worked in the tropical regions of South America for many years, and in the last 10 to 15 years I have only fallen on the spider three times
If mygal is aggressive and its dangerous crocs (they can pierce the skull of a mouse), the Spider Goliath uses many of its defensive weapons. It has an abundance of ways to scare potential predators, especially by its attitude stridulation . If the latter is not enough to make them flee, its bombardment of urticating silks takes over. If this does not frighten her predator, then she will not hesitate for a moment to face and bite.
Females have a life expectancy of 6 to 15 years. Males 3 to 6 years old.
Some sources say that hunting spider ( Heteropoda maxima ) is greater, due to the length of its tentacular legs. However, relative to the weight and size of the body, it is the Goliath spider that is more imposing.
These photos were taken by Piotr Naskrecki .
Does this spider frighten you?
Sources: LiveScience , AzCentral , Mashable , Wikipedia
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