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World's biggest spider
The scientific name comes from the Greek Thera - Wild animal and Phos - Light).
Taxonomy
Kingdom - Animalia (animals)Phylum - Arthropoda (arthropods)
Class - Arachnida (spiders, scorpions, mites, ticks, ...)
Order - Araneae (spiders)
Family - Theraphosidae (baboon spiders)
About Goliath
Goliath spider video
Five tarantula snippets
- The tarantula's venom, including that of the Goliath, is not usually lethal to humans, although the bite may cause pain, sickness and sweating.
- Tarantulas eat small snakes, lizards, insects, frogs, and sometimes even bats and rodents. The Goliath has been known to catch young birds. This is very rare but is the behaviour that gave the spider its name. It was a Victorian explorer who saw one eating a hummingbird.
- Tarantulas don't have teeth for eating their meals. Instead, they inject juices into their victims. These juices break down the soft tissues, allowing the spider to slurp up its victims insides. Yum.
- The Goliath tarantula can make a noise by rubbing bristles on its legs together. This 'hissing' sound is loud enough to be heard up to 15 feet away!
- The tarantula's secret weapon is its ability to release hairs from its body at any creature it sees as a threat. The tiny hairs are very irritating to the skin, and can cause problems if they get into the mucous membranes around the mouth and eyes.
Goliath Bird-Eating Tarantula
The World's Biggest Spider
Goliath Bird-Eating Tarantula: The World's Biggest Spider (Supersized!)
Amazon Price: $21.28 (as of 07/10/2009)
Tarantula pictures
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Leblondi's vogelspin
Tarantula - red bone...
Reptile Show - Tampa...
Tarantula Butt
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Goliath links
Biggest Spider | Goliath bird-eating spider
The goliath bird-eating spider is pretty harmless more...3 points
Insects and Arthropods » Tarantulas » Goliath Bird Eating Tarantula Main Page
Detailed information and pet care on the Goliath B more...1 point
Pictures of the Goliath Tarantula (Theraphosa blondi), Spiders, Photos by Wernher Krutein and Photovault; Photographs, Images, Photovault.com Arachnid Museum
Brown Recluse Spider (Loxosceles reclusa), Picture more...1 point
Camel spiders
But what about the gigantic Camel spider?!
Camel spiders, (sometimes known as sunspiders or sun scorpions) are one of 800 species of the order Solifugae (formerly Solpugida) of the arthropod class Arachnida. They are so-called because of their humped heads, not because they eat camels!They prefer hot, dry regions and are known for their swiftness (up to 10mph). Their hairiness and rounded abdomens are spiderlike whilst the front appendages resemble those of a scorpion.
Body length is typically half an inch to 2 inches, although this is more like 6 inches including the legs. So the camel spider is about half the size of our Goliath!
Camel spiders have a huge appetite, and the largest can kill small vertebrates. They have large, toothed pincers for grabbing, with sucking tips for seizing prey!
Bites, though uncommon, can leave a nasty, ragged wound requiring medical treatment.
Is the thought of a giant tarantula giving you the creeps...?
How about owning a radio-controlled one instead?!
Discovery Exclusive Radio Control Tarantula
* Radio control tarantula with remote
* Furry and life-sized
* Crawls like a real spider
* Eyes light up
* Scurries across any flat, smooth surface
News search
Updated every 30 minutes
- 'Spider-Man 4' Script To Be Rewritten By 'Seabiscuit' Scribe Gary Ross
- According to Variety, Gary Ross has been hired to pen a new draft of ?Spider-Man 4,? the next installment in the franchise. The deal reunites Ross with ...
- Five Villains We'd Like To See In 'Spider-Man 4' (But Maybe Not ...
- So, here are some of the Spider-Man villains we'd most like to see in the film, culled from the friendly neighborhood wall-crawler's impressive rogues ...
- Exclusive First Look: Amazing Spider-Man #599
- Marvel has provided Newsarama with your first look at next week's Amazing Spider-Man #599, the conclusion to American Son by Joe Kelly and Marco Checchetto. ...
- JACKSONS SPIDER BITE WAS CAUSED BY HEROIN INJECTION REPORT
- The late pop star's one-time video producer Marc Shaffel has revealed Jackson's 'spider bite', which was used to mask a late arrival to court during a 2002 ...
Deep in the Amazon jungle...
...You come across the tarantula warehouse!
Spider news
Updated every 30 minutes
- 'Spider-Man 4' Script To Be Rewritten By 'Seabiscuit' Scribe Gary Ross
- According to Variety, Gary Ross has been hired to pen a new draft of ?Spider-Man 4,? the next installment in the franchise. The deal reunites Ross with ...
- Five Villains We'd Like To See In 'Spider-Man 4' (But Maybe Not ...
- So, here are some of the Spider-Man villains we'd most like to see in the film, culled from the friendly neighborhood wall-crawler's impressive rogues ...
- Exclusive First Look: Amazing Spider-Man #599
- Marvel has provided Newsarama with your first look at next week's Amazing Spider-Man #599, the conclusion to American Son by Joe Kelly and Marco Checchetto. ...
- JACKSONS SPIDER BITE WAS CAUSED BY HEROIN INJECTION REPORT
- The late pop star's one-time video producer Marc Shaffel has revealed Jackson's 'spider bite', which was used to mask a late arrival to court during a 2002 ...
The Jungle Store
The Jungle Store is teeming with collectibles, jewelry, costumes, masks, party supplies and inflatables...!
Guestbook
World's biggest spider
Cumberland wrote...
Interesting lens. I find spiders, particularly jumping spiders and tarantulas to be intriguing and entertaining. 5*
Posted June 09, 2009
Cumberland wrote...
Interesting lens. I find spiders, particularly jumping spiders and tarantulas to be intriguing and entertaining. 5*
Posted June 09, 2009
KimGiancaterino wrote...
I've actually held one of these in my hand. We're a spider-friendly household -- no chemicals and no kills. Nice lens... Squid Angel Blessed.
Posted June 05, 2009
rms wrote...
Hey Giant! I'm one of the Giant Squid Community Organizers and we'd like to hear your Giant Squid Suggestions. What would be a great new Giant perk? What can Squidoo do to help you create better and more successful lenses? Please stop by http://www.squidoo.com/Giant-Squid_Community-Organizer and leave us your thoughts in the suggestion box.
Posted April 16, 2009
