Goliath Birdeater

giant spider · tarantula · South America · rainforest

Biggest spider ever. The Goliath birdeater is the largest spider in the world by weight and body length. It's even bigger than some prehistoric spiders that died out millions of years ago.

Leg span record holder. While the giant huntsman spider has longer legs overall, the Goliath birdeater is second place and still absolutely massive compared to any spider you'd find in your backyard.

Misleading bird-eater name. Despite its name, the Goliath birdeater almost never actually eats birds. The name came from a 300-year-old drawing that showed one eating a hummingbird, but that's not what these spiders really hunt.

Rain forest home. This giant spider lives in the rainforests of northern South America, where it hides in burrows on the forest floor and hunts insects and small creatures.