Spiders are generally not the most like creatures on the planet and often strike fear in people. That might seem OK when they’re small and don’t seem like they can cause any harm. When they’re the size of a dinner plate, that’s a different story.
1. Golden Blue-Leg Tarantula
These spiders are native to East Africa and get their name from their vibrant golden-blue hues. They can grow up to 6 inches in leg span, making it quite large to start this list. These critters are usually quite shy and prefer to stay in their burrows. While their venom is potent, it’s not fatal to humans and can only cause intense pain and swelling.
2. Sand-Dwelling Huntsman
These spiders can be pretty terrifying, with leg spans reaching up to 6 inches. They can be found in the sand dunes of Israel and Jordan and create burrows in the sandy terrain, where they hunt for prey and stay out of sight during the day.
3. Indian Ornamental Tree Spider
These spiders call India and Sri Lanka home. They’re known for their vibrant, ornate markings in shades of black, gold, and brown. They have a leg span of up to 7 inches and are typically calm and reclusive, only becoming defensive if provoked. Their venom might not be deadly, but it will hurt if they bite.
4. Face-Sized Tarantula
These creatures can be found in the rainforests of Sri Lanka and have an impressive leg span of up to 8 inches. Their bites might hurt, but they won’t be fatal to any human, and seeing as they usually thrive in trees, they shouldn’t be a problem.
5. Colombian Giant Tarantula
This creepy critter, also known as Megaphobema robust, can be found in the rainforests of Colombia. Its leg span can reach up to 8 inches, making it a true giant among arachnids. Its thick, dark brown to black body is covered in fine hairs that help it defend itself by releasing irritants when threatened. They are mostly shy and prefer to stay hidden away in their burrows, only coming out at night to hunt.
6. Chaco Golden Knee
These spiders look striking and are known for their golden-yellow leg markings and massive size. They are native to the Chaco region of South America, particularly in Paraguay and Argentina, and can grow to a leg span of up to 8 inches. They are known to be relatively calm, and you can often find them in the care of tarantula enthusiasts.
7. King Baboon Spider
These creepy crawlers can be found in regions of East Africa. They have thick, dark-brown-to-black bodies and legs, often covered in hair that gives them a fearsome, armored look. Their leg span can reach up to 8 inches, and they have a quite intimidating demeanor. If provoked, they will defend themselves with sharp fangs and potent venom.
8. Hercules Baboon Spider
Despite reaching up to 8 inches in leg span, this critter is relatively shy. During the day, it prefers to stay in its burrow or hide under rocks. It is an ambush predator, patiently waiting for prey to come near before striking with remarkable speed.
9. Brazilian Giant Red Tarantula
This massive spider can grow up to 10 inches in leg span, but despite its size, it has a calm demeanor and mostly only comes out at night to hunt. They can mostly be found in Brazil, and their venom might cause some pain, but it won’t do any permanent damage.
10. Brazilian Salmon Pink Bird-Eating Tarantula
This tarantula gets its name from the pinkish-orange hue on the underside of its legs and can grow up to 10 inches in leg span. Despite its intimidating size and the misconception that it preys on birds, this tarantula primarily feeds on insects and small vertebrates.
11. Giant Huntsman Spider
This is most definitely one of the largest spiders in the world, known for its extraordinary size and long, spindly legs that can span up to 12 inches. This impressive spidey is known for its fantastic hunting skill as it doesn’t spin a web but hunts down its prey. They are also one of the fastest spiders; that alone is enough to fright you.
12. Goliath Birdeater
This creepy crawley takes the prize for the biggest spider due to their mass and size. They can have a leg span of up to 12 inches, making it as large as a dinner plate. While they don’t mainly eat birds, their diet consists of insects, amphibians, and small vertebrates, though they can take down small birds on occasion. One of the most fascinating features of this giant spider is its ability to make a defensive hissing sound by rubbing its abdomen, which doesn’t make running into this guy any less scary.
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