Goliath Birdeater

Lore & Background

The Goliath birdeater's fearsome name comes from an early 18th-century copper engraving by Maria Sibylla Merian that shows one eating a hummingbird. In reality, this spider rarely preys on birds. In the wild, its diet consists primarily of other large arthropods, worms, and amphibians. However, because of its size and opportunistic predatory behavior, this species commonly kills and consumes a variety of insects and small terrestrial vertebrates. They do not consume their prey in the open; rather, they drag it back to their burrow and begin the digesting process by liquefying the insides of their prey and proceeding to suck it dry. In the wild, T. blondi has been observed feeding on rodents, frogs, toads, lizards, and even snakes.

In Their Own Story

In the upland rainforest regions of northern South America—Suriname, Guyana, French Guiana, northern Brazil, eastern Colombia, and southern Venezuela—the Goliath birdeater lives a nocturnal life in deep burrows, commonly found in marshy or swampy areas. When threatened, it stridulates by rubbing setae on its pedipalps and legs, producing a warning sound. If the threat persists, it rubs its abdomen with its hind legs and releases urticating hairs that are a severe irritant to the skin and mucous membranes. These hairs can be harmful to humans. As a last resort, it may bite with fangs large enough (2–4 cm or 0.79–1.57 in) to break human skin, but the venom is relatively harmless and its effects are comparable to those of a wasp's sting. Tarantulas generally bite humans only in self-defense, and these bites do not always result in envenomation (known as a "dry bite").

Reader's Guide

The Goliath birdeater is native to the upland rainforest regions of Northern South America: Suriname, Guyana, French Guiana, northern Brazil, eastern Colombia, and southern Venezuela. Most noticeable in the Amazon rainforest, the spider is terrestrial, living in deep burrows, and is found commonly in marshy or swampy areas. It is a nocturnal species. These spiders can have a leg span of up to 30 cm (12 in), a body length of up to 13 cm (5.1 in), and can weigh up to 175 g (6.2 oz). Birdeaters are one of the few tarantula species that lack tibial spurs, located on the first pair of legs of most adult males. They are mostly tan to light brown and golden-hued. Females mature in 3-6 years and have an average lifespan of 15 to 25 years. Males die soon after maturity and have a lifespan of three to six years. The female lays 100 to 200 eggs, which hatch into spiderlings within 6 to 8 weeks. The Goliath birdeater is also an edible spider, part of the local cuisine in northeastern South America, prepared by singeing off the urticating hairs and roasting it in banana leaves. The flavor has been described as "shrimp-like".

Did You Know?

• The Goliath birdeater is the largest spider in the world by mass (175 g / 6.2 oz) and body length (up to 13 cm / 5.1 in).
• Its name comes from an early 18th-century copper engraving by Maria Sibylla Merian showing one eating a hummingbird.
• It is second to the giant huntsman spider by leg span.
• Females can live 15 to 25 years, while males die soon after maturity and live only three to six years.
• The spider is part of local cuisine in northeastern South America, roasted in banana leaves and described as tasting "shrimp-like".