South AmericaNot evaluated
Goliath birdeater
Theraphosa blondi
The biggest spider in the world by weight, as big as a dinner plate.
- Weight
- Up to 175 g
- Size
- Up to 30 cm leg span
- Lifespan
- Females up to 20 years
- Top speed
- Slow walker
- Diet
- Worms, insects, frogs
How heavy is that?
So light that a 40 kg kid weighs as much as 229 of them
Where it lives
Three things to know
- Despite its name, it mostly eats worms, insects and frogs.
- It rubs its legs together to make a hissing sound.
- It flicks off itchy hairs to defend itself.
Compare with…
- Weight
- Goliath birdeater175 gA 10-year-old kid40 kgThe kid weighs about 229× as much as the Goliath birdeater
- Size
- Goliath birdeater30 cmA 10-year-old kid1.4 mThe kid is about 5× as big as the Goliath birdeater
- Top speed
- Goliath birdeater—A 10-year-old kid20 km/hToo slow to time
- Lifespan
- Goliath birdeater20 yrsA 10-year-old kid80 yrsThe kid can live about 4× as long as the Goliath birdeater
Food chain
- LeavesProducer
- Insects
Goliath birdeaterThis animal- Coati