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{{Short description|Species of spider}}
{{Taxobox
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
⚫ | name = Giant huntsman spider
{{Speciesbox
⚫ | image = Heteropoda maxima 1.jpg
⚫ |name = Giant huntsman spider
⚫ | image_caption = ''Heteropoda maxima''
⚫ |image = Heteropoda maxima 1.jpg
| regnum = ]ia
⚫ |taxon = Heteropoda maxima
| phylum = ]
⚫ |authority = ], 2001<ref name=WSC_s34637/><ref name="Jaeger">Jaeger P. 2001. '''' Zoosystema 23 (3): 461–465.</ref>
| classis = ]
| ordo = ]
| subordo = ]
⚫ | familia = ]
| genus = '']''
| species = '''''H. maxima'''''
| binomial = ''Heteropoda maxima''
⚫ | binomial_authority = Jaeger, 2001<ref name="Jaeger">Jaeger P. 2001. '''' Zoosystema 23 (3): 461-465.
</ref>
}} }}
The '''giant huntsman spider''' (''{{lang|la|Heteropoda maxima}}'', from ''{{lang|la|maximus}}'', meaning “the largest”) is a ] of the '']'' ].


The '''giant huntsman spider''' ('''''Heteropoda maxima''''') is a ] of the ] family Sparassidae found in ].<ref name="szalay">{{cite web | last = Szalay | first = Jessie | title = Giant Huntsman Spider: World's Largest Spider By Leg Span | website = ] | url= http://www.livescience.com/41428-huntsman-spider.html | date=21 November 2013 | access-date = 20 October 2014}}</ref> It is considered the world's largest spider by leg span,<ref name="szalay"/> which can reach up to {{cvt|30|cm|ft|0}}.<ref name=natgeo>{{cite web|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/12/photogalleries/greater-mekong-new-species-photos/photo6.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219034005/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/12/photogalleries/greater-mekong-new-species-photos/photo6.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 December 2008|title=PHOTOS: Cyanide Millipede, Huge Spider Among New Species|work=]|access-date=17 December 2008}}</ref>
It is considered<!-- it was no original description of the species.--> in a December 2008 ] report as "the world's largest Huntsman spider".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://panda.org/about_wwf/where_we_work/asia_pacific/our_solutions/greatermekong/area/species/new_species_discoveries/index.cfm | title=New species discoveries | publisher=] | accessdate=17 December 2008}}</ref>


==Appearance== ==Description==
The coloration is yellowish-brown with several irregularly distributed dark spots on the rear half. The legs have wide dark bands before the first bend. Like all huntsman spiders, the legs of the giant huntsman spider are long compared to the body, and twist forward in a crab-like fashion.<ref name=zipzoo>{{cite web | url=http://zipcodezoo.com/Key/Animalia/Sparassidae_Family.asp | title=Sparassidae (Family) | publisher=zipcodezoo.com | accessdate=18 December 2008}}</ref> The coloration is yellowish-brown with several irregularly distributed dark spots on the rear half. The legs have wide dark bands before the first bend. Like all huntsman spiders, the legs of the giant huntsman spider are long compared to the body, and twist forward in a crab-like fashion.<ref name="szalay"/>


Apart from its size, the ''H. maxima'' can be distinguished from other species of Heteropoda (also known as ]) by genital characteristics: On males, the ] is much longer than usual, at least three times longer than the tegulum. The female is distinguished by a characteristically shaped epigyneal field with two anterior directed bands, and the course of their internal ducts. Apart from its size, the ''H. maxima'' can be distinguished from other species of ''Heteropoda'' by genital characteristics. On males, the ] is at least three times longer than the ]. The female is distinguished by a characteristically shaped epigyneal field with two anterior directed bands, and the course of their internal ducts.{{Cn|date=January 2021}}


⚫ The giant huntsman spider is the largest member of the family Sparassidae, boasting a {{cvt|30|cm|in|abbr=off}} leg-span, and {{cvt|4.6|cm|in|abbr=off}} body-length.<ref name="Jaeger"/> The largest known member of the ] known prior to the discovery of ''H. maxima'' was the Australian '']'' (L. Koch, 1875) with a body length of about {{cvt|4|cm|in|abbr=off|sp=us}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usq.edu.au/spider/find/spiders/487.htm |title=The Find-a-spider Guide: Beregama Aurea |publisher=University of South Queensland |access-date=18 December 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207182618/http://www.usq.edu.au/spider/find/spiders/487.htm |archive-date=7 February 2009 }}</ref> (Other relatively large members of Sparassidae have been discovered in recent years, including '']'', the largest in the Middle East).{{Cn|date=January 2021}}
The giant huntsman spider is considered by Peter Jaeger to be a primitive species of Heteropoda.


==Taxonomy and naming==
⚫ The giant huntsman spider is the largest member of the ], boasting a 30 centimeter (12 inches) leg-span, and 4.6 centimeter body-length.<ref name="Jaeger"/> The largest known member of the Sparassidae known prior to the discovery of ''H. maxima'' was the Australian ''Beregama aurea'' (L. Koch, 1875) with a body length of about 4 centimeters.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.usq.edu.au/spider/find/spiders/487.htm | title=The Find-a-spider Guide: Beregama Aurea | publisher=University of South Queensland | accessdate=18 December 2008}}</ref>
⚫ ''Heteropoda maxima'' was first described in 2001 by Peter Jäger,<ref name=WSC_s34637/> after being discovered in a cave in ].<ref name=natgeo/> Over a thousand new species of plant and animal were found between 1997 and 2007 in the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://panda.org/about_wwf/where_we_work/asia_pacific/our_solutions/greatermekong/area/species/new_species_discoveries/index.cfm|title=New species discoveries|publisher=]|access-date=17 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201185409/http://panda.org/about_wwf/where_we_work/asia_pacific/our_solutions/greatermekong/area/species/new_species_discoveries/index.cfm|archive-date=1 February 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

⚫ A representative of the ] stated that "some of these species really have no business being recently discovered",<ref name=natgeo/> suggesting that it is surprising for such a large species to go undiscovered for so long.{{Cn|date=January 2021}}


==Distribution and habitat== ==Distribution and habitat==
The giant huntsman spider is found in ],<ref name=zipzoo></ref> and is probably a cave dweller because of its pale colour, long legs and special hairs on the second foot of the male. There is no apparent reduction of the eyes, however. This may be because the species lives by the opening of caves as well as inside them.<ref> by Peter Jaeger</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2008/12/15/new-species-alert-hot-pink-millipede-collosal-spider-and-tiny-deer-emerge/ | title=New Species Alert!Hot Pink Millipede, Collosal Spider, and Tiny Deer Emerge. | publisher=http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/ | accessdate=18 December 2008}}</ref> The giant huntsman spider is found in ], and is believed to be a cave dweller because of its pale colour, long legs and special hairs on the second foot of the male. There is no apparent reduction of the eyes, possibly because the species lives near cave entrances.<ref name="Jaeger"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2008/12/15/new-species-alert-hot-pink-millipede-collosal-spider-and-tiny-deer-emerge/|title=New Species Alert!Hot Pink Millipede, {{sic|nolink=y|Collosal|expected=Colossal}} Spider, and Tiny Deer Emerge.|publisher=blogs.discovermagazine.com/|access-date=18 December 2008|archive-date=18 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218072247/http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2008/12/15/new-species-alert-hot-pink-millipede-collosal-spider-and-tiny-deer-emerge/|url-status=dead}}</ref>


==Discovery== ==Cannibalism==
Florian and Diana Schnös discovered cannibalism within the species of giant huntsman spiders in a cave near Vang Vieng in ].<ref name="szalay"/> Female individuals may eat male individuals after mating,{{Cn|date=January 2021}} a characteristic more commonly associated with the genus '']'', the ''true widows,'' although it is considered normal spider behavior.
⚫ The giant huntsman spider was discovered in northern Laos in 2001. During the past ten years, over a thousand new species have been found in the ].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://panda.org/about_wwf/where_we_work/asia_pacific/our_solutions/greatermekong/area/species/new_species_discoveries/index.cfm | title=New species discoveries | publisher=] | accessdate=17 December 2008}}</ref>
]

⚫ A representative of the ] quipped that "Some of these species really have no business being recently discovered,"<ref name=natgeo>{{cite web | url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/12/photogalleries/greater-mekong-new-species-photos/photo6.html | title=PHOTOS: Cyanide Millipede, Huge Spider Among New Species | publisher=] | accessdate=17 December 2008}}</ref> suggesting that it is surprising for a species this large to go undiscovered for so long.


==See also== ==See also==
* ] (''Theraphosa blondi''), considered to be the largest spider in the world. * ] (''Theraphosa blondi''), largest known spider in the world by mass
* '']'', the largest known fossilized spider
* '']'', a huntsman spider found in Israel and Jordan


== References == ==References==
{{Reflist}} {{Reflist|refs=
<ref name=WSC_s34637>{{cite web |title=Taxon details ''Heteropoda maxima'' Jäger, 2001 |work=World Spider Catalog |publisher=Natural History Museum Bern |url=http://www.wsc.nmbe.ch/species/34637 |access-date=15 November 2017 }}</ref>
}}


==Further reading==
⚫ ]
{{cite journal|last1=Bayer|first1=Steffen|last2=Jaeger|first2=Peter|title=Heteropoda species from limestone caves in Laos (Araneae: Sparassidae: Heteropodinae)|journal=Zootaxa|date=June 2009|volume=1|issue=2143|page=23|url=http://ucelinks.cdlib.org:8888/sfx_local?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&url_ctx_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal&rft.atitle=Heteropoda%20species%20from%20limestone%20caves%20in%20Laos%20%28Araneae%3A%20Sparassidae%3A%20Heteropodinae%29&rft.aufirst=Steffen&rft.aulast=Bayer&rft.date=2009&rft.eissn=1175-5334&rft.epage=23&rft.genre=article&rft.issn=1175-5326&rft.issue=2143&rft.jtitle=ZOOTAXA&rft.pages=1-23&rft.spage=1&rft.stitle=ZOOTAXA&rfr_id=info:sid/www.isinet.com:WoK:UA&rft.au=Jaeger%2C%20Peter|access-date=29 April 2015}}{{Dead link|date=March 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
⚫ ]


] {{commons category|Heteropoda maxima}}
] {{Wikispecies|Heteropoda maxima}}

]
{{Taxonbar|from=Q114516}}

⚫ ]
⚫ ]
⚫ ]
]

Latest revision as of 17:34, 24 December 2024

Species of spider

Giant huntsman spider
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Sparassidae
Genus: Heteropoda
Species: H. maxima
Binomial name
Heteropoda maxima
Jäger, 2001

The giant huntsman spider (Heteropoda maxima) is a species of the huntsman spider family Sparassidae found in Laos. It is considered the world's largest spider by leg span, which can reach up to 30 cm (1 ft).

Description

The coloration is yellowish-brown with several irregularly distributed dark spots on the rear half. The legs have wide dark bands before the first bend. Like all huntsman spiders, the legs of the giant huntsman spider are long compared to the body, and twist forward in a crab-like fashion.

Apart from its size, the H. maxima can be distinguished from other species of Heteropoda by genital characteristics. On males, the cymbium is at least three times longer than the tegulum. The female is distinguished by a characteristically shaped epigyneal field with two anterior directed bands, and the course of their internal ducts.

The giant huntsman spider is the largest member of the family Sparassidae, boasting a 30 cm (12 in) leg-span, and 4.6 cm (1.8 in) body-length. The largest known member of the Sparassidae known prior to the discovery of H. maxima was the Australian Beregama aurea (L. Koch, 1875) with a body length of about 4 cm (1.6 in). (Other relatively large members of Sparassidae have been discovered in recent years, including Cerbalus aravaensis, the largest in the Middle East).

Taxonomy and naming

Heteropoda maxima was first described in 2001 by Peter Jäger, after being discovered in a cave in Laos. Over a thousand new species of plant and animal were found between 1997 and 2007 in the Greater Mekong Subregion.

A representative of the World Wide Fund for Nature stated that "some of these species really have no business being recently discovered", suggesting that it is surprising for such a large species to go undiscovered for so long.

Distribution and habitat

The giant huntsman spider is found in Laos, and is believed to be a cave dweller because of its pale colour, long legs and special hairs on the second foot of the male. There is no apparent reduction of the eyes, possibly because the species lives near cave entrances.

Cannibalism

Florian and Diana Schnös discovered cannibalism within the species of giant huntsman spiders in a cave near Vang Vieng in Laos. Female individuals may eat male individuals after mating, a characteristic more commonly associated with the genus Latrodectus, the true widows, although it is considered normal spider behavior.

Female giant huntsman eating male

See also

References

  1. ^ "Taxon details Heteropoda maxima Jäger, 2001". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  2. ^ Jaeger P. 2001. A new species of Heteropoda (Araneae, Sparassidae, Heteropodinae) from Laos, the largest huntsman spider? Zoosystema 23 (3): 461–465.
  3. ^ Szalay, Jessie (21 November 2013). "Giant Huntsman Spider: World's Largest Spider By Leg Span". Live Science. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  4. ^ "PHOTOS: Cyanide Millipede, Huge Spider Among New Species". National Geographic. Archived from the original on 19 December 2008. Retrieved 17 December 2008.
  5. "The Find-a-spider Guide: Beregama Aurea". University of South Queensland. Archived from the original on 7 February 2009. Retrieved 18 December 2008.
  6. "New species discoveries". World Wide Fund for Nature. Archived from the original on 1 February 2009. Retrieved 17 December 2008.
  7. "New Species Alert!Hot Pink Millipede, Collosal [sic] Spider, and Tiny Deer Emerge". blogs.discovermagazine.com/. Archived from the original on 18 December 2008. Retrieved 18 December 2008.

Further reading

Bayer, Steffen; Jaeger, Peter (June 2009). "Heteropoda species from limestone caves in Laos (Araneae: Sparassidae: Heteropodinae)". Zootaxa. 1 (2143): 23. Retrieved 29 April 2015.

Taxon identifiers
Heteropoda maxima
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