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What is the largest spider in the world?
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Illustration comparing the sizes of four spider species-the giant huntsman, goliath birdeater, joro spider, and ground wolf spider-shown as silhouettes next to an average adult male hand for scale, with a vertical ruler on the side for precise measurement. Goliath bird-eating spider (Theraphosa blondi), a large brown tarantula, resting on rough, light-colored tree bark. Giant huntsman spider
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Illustration comparing the sizes of four spider species-the giant huntsman, goliath birdeater, joro spider, and ground wolf spider-shown as silhouettes next to an average adult male hand for scale, with a vertical ruler on the side for precise measurement.
Size comparison of four spider species

What is the largest spider in the world?

Written by
Melissa Petruzzello
Melissa Petruzzello (she/her) is Assistant Managing Editor and covers plants, algae, fungi, insects, spiders, renewable energy and environmental engineering. She also handles certain topics in Christianity,...
Melissa Petruzzello
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Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
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There are two spiders that can claim this title, depending on the measurement you’re curious about. The goliath birdeater (Theraphosa blondi), a hulking tarantula found in the Amazon Rainforest, is the largest known spider by mass. It can weigh up to 170 grams (6 ounces), about the same as a regulation pocket billiards (pool) ball, and its enormous body reaches up to 12 cm (5 inches) in length. Its eight legs span some 28 cm (11 inches),...

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