Leslie Massey
Huntsman spiders are large, long-legged spiders that are mostly grey to brown in colour, sometimes with banded legs. They are members of the family Sparassidae and are also called giant crab spiders because of their size and appearance. On average, a huntsman spider's leg span can reach up to 15 cm, while some species can have a leg span of 20-30 cm. Australian huntsman spiders are known for entering houses and cars and are considered harmless to humans despite being venomous.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Average leg span | 15 cm (5.9 in) |
| Body length | 1.8 cm (0.7 in) |
| Maximum leg span | 25-30 cm (9.8-11.8 in) |
| Colour | Grey to brown |
| Markings | Banded legs, mottled brown, white and black |
| Eyes | 8 eyes in 2 forward-facing rows of 4 |
| Vision | Sufficient to detect approaching humans or large animals from a distance |
| Habitat | Under loose bark on trees, in crevices on rock walls, under rocks, in logs, and on foliage |
| Behaviour | Social, living in large family groups |
| Diet | Insects and other invertebrates, including cockroaches, beetles, crickets, and other spiders |
| Venom | Mildly venomous, not considered dangerous to humans |
| Lifespan | Over 2 years |
| Speed | Up to a yard (almost 1 meter) per second |
| Notable species | Giant green-bellied huntsman (Typostola barbata), Badge huntsman (Neosparassus), Brown huntsman (Heteropoda), Tropical huntsman (Heteropoda) venatoria |
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What You'll Learn
Huntsman spiders are large, long-legged, and hairy
The average Huntsman spider has a leg span of up to 15 cm (5.9 in), with some species reaching up to 20 cm (almost 8 in) or even larger. They are often referred to as "giant crab spiders" due to their size and appearance, with legs that spread out forward and laterally in a crab-like fashion.
The bodies of Huntsman spiders are typically smoothly furry, with prominent spines on their legs. They are mostly grey to brown in color, sometimes with banded legs or mottled brown, white, and black markings. Some species, like the giant green-bellied huntsman spider, have distinctive coloration, with a vibrant green underside and yellow-orange markings around their eyes.
Huntsman spiders are known for their speed and agility, often entering human dwellings and hiding in crevices, behind curtains, or in cars. They are excellent hunters, chasing and capturing their prey, which includes insects, spiders, and small animals. Despite their intimidating appearance, Huntsman spiders play an important role in maintaining the ecological balance by preying on pests such as cockroaches and other domestic insects.
These spiders exhibit social behavior, with some species living in large family groups. The female Huntsman is particularly dedicated to her offspring, guarding her egg sacs and staying with her spiderlings for several weeks after they hatch.
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They are venomous but not deadly to humans
Australian huntsman spiders are venomous, but their bites are not deadly to humans. While their bites can be very painful and cause mild nausea, headaches, and localized swelling and pain, they are not considered dangerous and do not require hospitalization. In most cases, a huntsman spider will try to run away from a human rather than bite them. However, female huntsman spiders are more likely to bite when they perceive a threat to their young.
Huntsman spiders are members of the family Sparassidae and are often called "giant crab spiders" due to their size and appearance. They are large, long-legged spiders that can be identified by their laterigrade legs, which are twisted and spread out forwards and laterally in a crab-like fashion. On average, their leg span can reach up to 15 cm (5.9 in), while their bodies measure about 1.8 cm (0.7 in) long. They are mostly grey to brown in color, sometimes with banded legs, and have two claws and eight eyes divided into two rows.
These spiders are found in various habitats, including under loose bark on trees, in crevices on rock walls, under rocks and foliage, and even inside homes and cars. They are social creatures, with some species living in large family groups. The female huntsman can produce up to 200 eggs, which she guards fiercely. After the eggs hatch, the mother stays with her spiderlings for several weeks.
Despite their intimidating appearance, huntsman spiders are generally harmless to humans and are even considered beneficial as they help keep pest populations under control. However, they can be a source of fear and discomfort for many people. It is recommended to keep them outdoors or gently capture and release them outside if found inside.
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They are fast, agile, and powerful
Huntsman spiders are wandering hunters that rely on their speed, agility, and power to capture their prey. They are sprinters and gymnasts, executing incredible leaps and tumbles to catch prey and escape predators. They can move up to a yard (almost 1 meter) per second. They do not build webs to trap their prey, but instead, they run it down and grasp it with their legs and fangs. They are also capable of making quick getaways, and their vision is sufficient to detect approaching humans or other large animals from a distance.
Huntsman spiders are members of the family Sparassidae and are commonly found in Australia. They are large, long-legged spiders, often referred to as "giant crab spiders" due to their size and appearance. Their legs have prominent spines, while their bodies are smoothly furry. On average, their leg span can reach up to 15 cm, with some species attaining a leg span of 25-30 cm.
These spiders are venomous, but their venom is not considered dangerous to humans. They are valuable because they eat cockroaches, other spiders, and domestic insect pests. While they are not aggressive towards humans, female huntsman spiders may become defensive when guarding their egg sacs or perceiving a threat to their young. In such cases, they are more likely to bite.
Huntsman spiders are known for entering human dwellings, such as houses and cars. They are often found hiding in crevices, behind curtains, or under loose bark, rocks, and foliage. Some species, like the social huntsman (Delena cancerides), live in large groups beneath bark or on dead trees. They are mostly grey to brown in colour, sometimes with banded legs, and their undersides may have black-and-white markings.
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They are found in crevices, foliage, and human dwellings
Australian huntsman spiders are members of the family Sparassidae, formerly known as Heteropodidae. They are commonly found in crevices, foliage, and human dwellings.
Huntsman spiders are often found in crevices, including rock walls, rock cracks, and logs. They favour woody places, such as forests, mine shafts, woodpiles, and wooden shacks. Their preference for these habitats is due to their large size and their ability to move in unusual ways. For example, the wheel spider from the Namib uses a cartwheeling motion, while Cebrennus rechenbergi uses a handspring motion. Their long legs are adapted for living in narrow spaces, with joints that twist so they can spread out forwards and laterally, resembling a crab. This is particularly true for the Delena species, which is the flattest of the huntsman spiders.
In addition to rock crevices, huntsman spiders are also found in foliage. They are known to live under loose bark on trees, under rocks, and on the ground under foliage. They are well-camouflaged, with shades of brown or grey on their upper surfaces and black-and-white markings on their undersides. This makes them difficult to spot in their natural habitat.
Huntsman spiders are also notorious for entering human dwellings, such as houses and cars. They are often found hiding behind sun visors or running across dashboards in vehicles. In homes, they can be found in sheds, garages, and other infrequently disturbed places. Their ability to enter these spaces is due to their flat bodies and long legs, which allow them to navigate through narrow gaps.
While huntsman spiders are typically found in natural habitats like crevices and foliage, they have adapted well to human environments. Their presence in human dwellings is a result of their ability to seek shelter, hide from predators, and find new sources of food. Their long legs and flat bodies enable them to navigate through tight spaces, making them well-suited for living in close proximity to humans.
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They are called 'giant crab spiders' due to their legs
Australian huntsman spiders are members of the family Sparassidae (formerly Heteropodidae) and are commonly referred to as giant crab spiders due to their size and the structure of their legs. They are often mistaken for tarantulas because of their hairy appearance, but their legs are a key distinguishing feature. Unlike tarantulas, huntsman spiders have laterigrade legs, similar to those of crabs. Their legs are not jointed vertically relative to the body; instead, their joints are twisted, allowing the legs to spread out forwards and laterally in a crab-like fashion. This adaptation enables them to navigate narrow spaces effectively.
The average leg span of a huntsman spider can reach up to 15 cm (5.9 in), but some individuals can attain even larger dimensions. For example, the male giant huntsman spiders (Heteropoda maxima) in Laos have been recorded with a leg span of 25-30 cm (9.8-11.8 in). The impressive leg span contributes to their agility and speed, making them adept hunters that can often be found in human dwellings, scurrying across walls and dashboards.
The legs of huntsman spiders also play a role in communication and reproduction. Males of the species Heteropoda venatoria use their legs to transmit vibrations from their bodies to the surface, creating a substrate-borne sound to attract females. This sound, resembling a rhythmic ticking, is produced by strong vibrations of the abdomen and serves as a unique identifier for females of the same species.
In addition to their impressive size and agility, the legs of Australian huntsman spiders showcase prominent spines, with the rest of their bodies being smoothly furry. This combination of spines and fur contributes to their distinctive appearance. The banded huntsman (Holconia) displays striped bands on its legs, while other species like the badge huntsman (Neosparassus) and tropical or brown huntsman (Heteropoda) exhibit brown and hairy legs.
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Frequently asked questions
Australian huntsman spiders are large, long-legged spiders. On average, their leg span can reach up to 15 cm (5.9 in), while their bodies measure about 1.8 cm (0.7 in) long. Some species, like the giant huntsman spider, can have a leg span of 25-30 cm (9.8-11.8 in).
Yes, huntsman spiders are venomous, but their venom is not considered dangerous to humans. Bites are rare and usually only cause mild nausea, headaches, and localized swelling and pain.
Huntsman spiders are typically found living under loose bark on trees, in crevices on rock walls, under rocks, and on foliage. They are also known to enter houses and cars.
Huntsman spiders are wandering hunters that eat insects and other invertebrates, including cockroaches, beetles, crickets, and other spiders.
Most huntsman spiders are solitary, but there are a few social species, including four found in Australia: Delena cancerides, D. lapidicola, D. melanochelis, and D. spenceri. These social huntsman spiders live in large family groups consisting of a single mother and multiple clutches of babies.
