More than 43,000 different spider species roam the Earth, but these creepy crawlers do not always go bump in thenight.
Theeight-legged insects vary in size and shape, with the smallest spiders in the world coming from thefamily Symphytognathidae, according to Guinness World Records. Spiders of this family can be mere inches;the smallest Patu diguaspider was recorded at0.014 inches, while the Samoan moss spider can be as small as 0.011 incheslong.
But what about the opposite side of the spectrum? How large can spiders get? Here isthe biggest spider in the world, as well as other record-breaking spiders.
Just Curious:We're here to help with life's everyday questions.
What is biggest spider in the world?
The largest spider in the world is Theraphosa blondi, commonly known as the Goliath birdeater, according to National Geographic. This tarantula can reach up to 11 inches in length and weigh 6 ounces; this size is big enough to cover a dinner plate, saysGuinness World Records.
The Goliath birdeater was given its nickname as the result of an18th century engraving of atarantulaeating a hummingbird, saysNational Geographic. In reality, these spiders rarely eat birds and mostly consumearthropods.
Unlike other spiders,Goliath birdeaters do not spin webs. Instead, these spiders produce and use silk to line theburrows theylive in beneath the forest floor,saysNational Geographic.
Goliath birdeaters are venomous, but not enough to betoxic to humans. If a human wasbitten by aGoliath birdeater, thebite would be similar to a wasp sting, andthey almost never require medical attention, according toNational Geographic.
Top 10 biggest spiders, by leg span
Here are the biggest spiders in the world by leg span:
- Giant huntsman spider (12-inch leg span)
- Goliath birdeater(11-inchleg span)
- Brazilian salmon pink birdeater (10-inch leg span)
- Brazilian giant tawny red tarantula (10-inch leg span)
- Face-size tarantula (8-inch leg span)
- Hercules baboon spider (7.9-inchleg span)
- Colombian giant redleg tarantula (7-inch leg span)
- Camel spider (6-inch leg span)
- Brazilian wandering spider (5.9-inch leg span)
- Cerbalus aravaensis (5.5-inch leg span)
Creepy crawlers:Here are some spiders that would leave you terrified
What is the deadliest spider in the world?
Thefunnel web spider is recognized asthe deadliest spider in the world.This Australian spider packs a punch;its venom contains 40 different toxic proteins, according to Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
This spider was responsible for several human deaths in the Sydney area, butno deaths have been reported from a funnel web spider in Australiasince 1980.
