Goliath Bird Eating Spiders Giant Arachnids

Goliath Bird Eating Spiders Giant Arachnids

Big, Hairy, and Heavy It's nighttime in the rainforest. As you walk down the path, you see the biggest spider you've ever seen. This giant spider has eight long, hairy legs and fangs that measure 0. 75 inches (2 cm)--about half the size of a person's thumb! Its venom can stop a mouse in its tracks with a single bite. A giant of the spider world, the Goliath bird-eater is the heaviest spider in the world. They can weigh up to 6 ounces (170 g)--about the weight of a large apple.

Running into a spider the size of a dinner plate can be scary, but you don't need to worry. These spiders aren't dangerous to humans. They are an important part of the tropical habitats where they live.

Eyes, Legs, and Hair Goliath bird-eating spiders are the largest of all tarantulas. Tarantulas are a type of big, hairy spider found in many parts of the world. Like many other spiders, Goliaths have eight eyes and eight legs. They also have two main body parts. The front part contains the spider's eyes, mouth, stomach, and brain. The legs are also attached to this part. The part in the back contains the spider's silk-making glands. Goliath tarantulas are covered in coffee- colored hairs. Their long, thick legs have dark brown hairs. The hairs are lighter in color at each “ joint, " or knee.

Even though they have eight eyes, these giant spiders have poor eyesight. They can tell light from dark, but they can't make out much detail. Instead, they depend on special hairs that cover their body to sense when prey is near. The hairs can feel the slightest vibrations on the ground and in the air. When a mouse or other small prey crawls by-wham! It triggers an attack. The Goliath has an extra set of short limbs near the spider's head to hold a victim. These short appendages then help pull the prey toward the Goliath's mouth and fangs.

Life in the Steamy Rainforest Goliath spiders live in the hot, humid rainforests of South America. They live in burrows under the ground or in spaces under rocks. Unlike many spiders, they don't spin a web, but they make silk to use in their burrows. Tropical rainforests are hot spots for living things. From bats, butterflies, and birds to big cats and lush plant life, these habitats are rich with life. Rainforests cover only about 6 or 7 percent of Earth's surface. However, they contain more than half of the plant and animals species in the world.