Lexi Webster
The Australian bird-eating spider, also known as the Queensland whistling tarantula, is one of Australia's largest spiders. It is native to the east coast of Queensland, Australia, and can be found in the warmer and more arid regions of the country. The female bird-eating spider can reach sizes of up to 6.5 cm in body length, while the male is slightly smaller, growing up to 5 cm. Including their legs, their diameter becomes much larger, with leg spans of up to 22 cm. These spiders are known for their ability to produce a hissing or whistling noise when provoked, and they are widely sought after as pets.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Bird-eating spider, Bird spider, Whistling spider, Barking spider, Australian Tarantula, Queensland whistling tarantula, Eastern tarantula |
| Scientific Name | Selenocosmia crassipes, Phlogius crassipes, Phrictus crassipes |
| Diet | Insects, lizards, frogs, small birds, other spiders |
| Prey Method | Pouncing on prey and injecting venom |
| Habitat | North Queensland, Australia, Northern Territory, Amazon rainforest |
| Behaviour | Nocturnal, ground-dwelling, burrowing |
| Reproduction | Females lay 48-200 eggs, males do not die after mating |
| Lifespan | Females: 15-30 years, Males: 3-6 years |
| Size | Legspan: 160mm-220mm, Body length: 40mm-60mm |
| Fangs | 10mm long |
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What You'll Learn
The Australian bird-eating spider is also known as the Australian Tarantula
The Australian bird-eating spider, also known as the Australian Tarantula, is a large, aggressive spider species native to the east coast of Queensland, Australia. It is commonly found in the warmer and more arid regions of the country. While it is called a bird-eating spider, this nocturnal ground-dwelling species is unlikely to encounter or feed on birds. Instead, its diet consists primarily of invertebrates like insects and other spiders, with small vertebrates like geckos, skinks, and frogs also being part of its diet.
The scientific name for the Australian bird-eating spider is Selenocosmia crassipes, and it belongs to the Trapdoor spider family. It is a fast-growing spider and is widely sought after as a pet. This spider species is known for its ability to produce a hissing or whistling noise when provoked, earning it the nicknames "whistling spider" and "barking spider." The noise is produced by the spider rubbing its palps with its fangs.
The Australian bird-eating spider can reach impressive sizes, with female body lengths of up to 6.5 cm and males measuring up to 5 cm. Including their legs, their overall size becomes much larger, with leg spans of up to 22 cm recorded. The largest species of this spider may attain a body length of 60 mm and a leg span of 160 mm, making it the largest spider in Australia.
The female Australian bird-eating spider can live up to 30 years, spending most of her life in or close to her silk-lined burrow. The male, on the other hand, leaves his burrow as an adult for mating but can survive to breed for two seasons before dying. The female lays her eggs in a special part of the burrow, producing an egg sac containing up to 48 eggs.
In terms of care, the Australian Tarantula requires a heat mat to maintain temperatures between 20-25 degrees Celsius. They should be fed 1-2 times per week, with live crickets being their main food source. Handling of these spiders is not recommended due to their aggressive nature and ability to inflict a painful bite.
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They are native to the east coast of Queensland, Australia
The Australian bird-eating spider, or Queensland whistling tarantula, is native to the east coast of Queensland, Australia. It is a nocturnal, ground-dwelling species that is unlikely to encounter or feed on birds. Instead, it preys on invertebrates, insects, and other spiders, as well as small vertebrates like geckos, skinks, and frogs. The scientific name for this spider is Selenocosmia crassipes, and it belongs to the Trapdoor family of spiders.
Bird-eating spiders are burrowing arachnids, creating silk-lined burrows that can be up to 1 metre deep for young spiders and 2 metres deep for adults. They are widely sought after as pets and are known for their fast growth rate. They are also called barking spiders or whistling spiders due to the hissing or whistling sound they produce when provoked. This sound is generated by rubbing their palps with their fangs and can be compared to the noise of running a fingernail down a comb.
In terms of size, the female bird-eating spider can reach sizes of up to 6.5 cm in body length, while the male is slightly smaller at around 5 cm. The largest species can attain a body length of 60 mm and a leg span of 160 mm, with powerful fangs measuring 10 mm in length. The leg span of the Selenocosmia crassipes species specifically can reach up to 22 cm, with a body length between 6 and 9 cm, making it the largest Australian tarantula.
Bird-eating spiders are found in the warmer and more arid regions of Queensland, particularly in the north and far north. They are common in upper Queensland and the Northern Territory, and their presence has been noted in areas like North Queensland, Bribie Island, Clontarf and Caboolture in southeast Queensland.
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They are one of Australia's largest spiders, with a body length of up to 60mm
The bird-eating spider, also known as the Australian Tarantula, Queensland Whistling Tarantula, Barking Spider, or Whistling Spider, is one of Australia's largest spiders. It is native to the east coast of Queensland, Australia, and is found in the warmer and more arid regions of the country.
The bird-eating spider is a fast-growing spider and is widely sought after as a pet. It is a burrowing arachnid, living underground in burrows that can be up to 1 metre deep. The adult spiders expand their burrows up to 2 metres, lining them with silk and digging a tunnel off the main tunnel that leads to a chamber with an air pocket.
The female bird-eating spider can grow up to 60mm in body length, while the male's body length can reach up to 40mm. 55mm to 6.5cm, depending on the source. The leg span of the bird-eating spider can be up to 160mm, and they have powerful fangs that can be up to 10mm long.
The bird-eating spider is a nocturnal, ground-dwelling species. Despite its name, it is not likely to encounter or feed on birds. Its diet consists mainly of invertebrates, including insects and other spiders, as well as small vertebrates such as geckos, skinks, and frogs.
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Bird-eating spiders are a type of Trapdoor Spider
Bird-eating spiders, also known as Australian tarantulas, are a type of Trapdoor Spider. They are native to the east coast of Queensland, Australia, and are commonly found in the warmer and more arid regions of the country. These spiders are known for their ability to produce a hissing or whistling noise when provoked, which has earned them the nicknames "whistling spider" and "barking spider". They can also be identified by their large size, with a body length of up to 60 mm and a leg span of up to 160 mm.
Bird-eating spiders are a nocturnal, ground-dwelling species that rarely feeds on birds despite their name. Their diet consists mainly of invertebrates, including insects and other spiders. They also prey on small vertebrates such as geckos, skinks, and frogs. These spiders are burrowing arachnids, creating underground burrows that can be up to 1 metre deep. Young spiders find natural shelters under rocks or roots, while adults expand their burrows and line them with silk.
The female bird-eating spider can live up to 30 years, spending most of her life in or near her silk-lined burrow. The male, on the other hand, leaves his burrow as an adult to mate. Interestingly, the males do not die after mating and can survive to breed for two seasons. The female lays her eggs in a special part of the burrow, producing an egg sac that is oval-shaped and made of tough silk.
Bird-eating spiders are widely sought after as pets due to their fast growth rate and unique characteristics. They are known to be aggressive and can inflict a nasty bite, although there have been no recorded fatalities from their bites. In captivity, they require a heat source to mimic their natural environment in Far North Queensland.
In summary, bird-eating spiders are a type of Trapdoor Spider native to Queensland, Australia. They are large, nocturnal predators with unique behavioural and reproductive traits. Their ability to produce hissing noises and their impressive size have earned them a fearsome reputation, making them an iconic, if slightly intimidating, part of Australia's diverse wildlife.
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They are widely sought after as pets
The Australian bird-eating spider, also known as the Queensland whistling tarantula, is a species of tarantula native to the east coast of Queensland, Australia. It is one of the country's largest spiders, with a body length of up to 60mm and a leg span of 160mm. Its bite is venomous and can cause swelling and vomiting, but it is not deadly to humans.
These spiders are widely sought after as pets due to their unique characteristics and intriguing behaviour. They are known for their ability to produce a hissing or whistling noise when provoked, which has earned them the nickname of "whistling spiders". This sound is produced by stridulating a patch of setae associated with its chelicerae, or by rubbing their palps with their fangs.
As pets, bird-eating spiders require specific care and attention. They are tropical creatures and require moisture in their enclosures, with temperatures maintained around 20-25 degrees Celsius. Terrarium-style enclosures with mesh lids work best for ventilation and to prevent escape. The substrate, such as Kritter Crumble, should be provided to mimic their natural habitat.
Bird-eating spiders are burrowing arachnids, and their enclosures should accommodate this behaviour. Adults can expand their burrows up to 2 metres in length, lined with silk. It is important to provide a deep enough substrate for them to burrow and create a tunnel system.
In the wild, bird-eating spiders feed on insects, lizards, frogs, and occasionally small birds. As pets, their diet can consist of live crickets, mealworms, silkworms, and even small mice. However, it is important to note that they do not respond well to handling and can inflict a painful bite.
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Frequently asked questions
The Australian bird-eating spider, or Queensland whistling tarantula, can have a body length of 55mm for females and 40mm for males. Its leg span can reach 160mm.
The scientific name for the Australian bird-eating spider is Selenocosmia crassipes.
Australian bird-eating spiders are found in the warmer and more arid regions of Australia, particularly in North Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Australian bird-eating spiders eat insects, lizards, frogs, small birds, and other spiders, particularly the Lycosa species. They do not actually eat birds, despite their name.
The bite of an Australian bird-eating spider is venomous and can cause swelling and vomiting, but it is not fatal to humans.
