Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
The Goliath birdeater (Theraphosa blondi) belongs to the tarantula family Theraphosidae.Found in northern South America, it is the largest spider in the world by mass (175 g (6.2 oz)) and body length (up to 13 cm (5.1 in)), and second to the giant huntsman spider by leg span. [1]
Theraphosa apophysis generally resembles Theraphosa blondi, and reaches a similar size. [3] Young T. apophysis spiders have pink shading at the end of each leg, which fades with each moult. [4] T. apophysis has an additional stridulating organ on the coxa of the second leg and thinner femora than T. blondi.
Theraphosa is a genus of South American tarantulas that was first described by Charles Athanase Walckenaer in 1805. The Theraphosa spiders are some of the largest known to science. As of May 2020 [update] it contains three species, found in Guyana , Brazil , Venezuela , and Colombia . [ 1 ]
While the world's biggest spiders are mygalomorphs – Theraphosa blondi has a body length of 10 cm (3.9 in) and a leg span of 28 cm (11 in) – some species are less than one millimeter (0.039 in) long. Mygalomorphs are capable of spinning at least slightly adhesive silk, and some build elaborate capture webs that approach a metre in diameter.
Ironically, the term "bird-eater" is more typically applied to the common names of large terrestrial species of tarantulas, such as the Goliath birdeater (Theraphosa blondi), the burgundy Goliath bird eater (Theraphosa stirmi), and the Brazilian salmon pink bird-eating tarantula (Lasiodora parahybana).
Get AOL Mail for FREE! Manage your email like never before with travel, photo & document views. Personalize your inbox with themes & tabs. You've Got Mail!
This spider is shares its genus to the tiny (1-inch-long (2.5 cm)) b. lennoni, the John Lennon tarantula, and has many traits that imply it is closely related to Theraphosa blondi the Goliath birdeater spider, largest known extant spider species [1]
Unusually, Type III urticating hairs are found only on the species of Theraphosa, but these otherwise are similar to many species that also have Type I hairs. Type III alone is found in many 'dwarf' new world genera, e.g. Hapalopus. Type IV is found in several South American genera, e.g. Grammostola, Euathlus etc. (exhibits types III and IV).