Giant Huntsman (Heteropoda maxima)

The Giant huntsman spider is the largest member of the family Sparassidae. The average huntsman attains a leg span length of approximately 9.8 to 11.8 inches (about 25 –30 centimeters), and a body length of about 4.6 cm.

The yellow-brown and gray body of these creatures is often associated with their long and forward facing crab-like legs. They typically have dark or stripped color bands running along the length of their body before the first bend.

The huntsman is a large, long-legged creature with a distinctive genital feature. The male has a longer cymbium than the female, and their epigyne field is shaped differently.

History 

The first huntsman species was discovered in a cave in Laos, Asia. They are initially believed to be cave dwellers due to their gray body color and elongated legs. This belief is also compounded by the fact that most huntsman spiders have flattened bodies which may have adjusted to them living in narrow spaces.

Habitat

Huntsman spiders are typically found in warmer temperate and tropical regions, but can also be found in semi-tropical regions. They are mostly found living between rock crevices, logs or wall cracks, between loose bark of trees or foliage or underneath dead tree stumps. They are also found in human homes. ..

Do Giant Huntsman spiders bite?

The giant huntsman spider, Araneus antirrhopus, does not contain venom and is therefore less dangerous to humans than other spiders.

The huntsman spider is not known to be generally aggressive towards humans, with the exception of when provoked. In the process of guarding her eggs, for instance, the female huntsman may become aggressive towards perceived trespassers and may likely strike. ..

There have been a few cases where a huntsman spider has been reported to have bitten a human. This is because they are shy and would rather run away than fight. ..

The hunt is a dangerous and deadly process for animals that are their prey. The hunt runs after the prey and injects its venom into it. The venom keeps the prey immobilized and automatically, a food material.

What do you do when you get bitten by a Giant Huntsman spider?

  1. Get medical attention as soon as possible. If the bite is severe, you may need to go to the hospital.
  2. Clean the wound with soap and water.
  3. Apply pressure to the wound until it subsides.
  4. Apply a bandage or wrap around the wound until it’s healed.

If you are bitten by a wild animal, clean the bite area with soap and water and apply an ice pack or cold pack to reduce swelling. Try to make the victim relax by reassuring them that a huntsman’s bite is less deadly than they think. Apply regular painkillers like paracetamol to lessen the pains. Keep an eye on the victim should in case they get allergic reactions like anaphylaxis which may include tightness or swellings in the throat or a swollen tongue. Call or report to the hospital once these extreme symptoms are noticed. ..

Are Giant Huntsman spiders super fast?

Giant huntsman spiders can move up to a yard (almost 1 meter) per second. Their speed is attributed as a great asset to their hunting technique. This is because, instead of building webs like other spiders, the giant huntsman spider actively hunts down its prey. Their speed makes hunting highly advantageous as it makes it easy for them to corner their prey. ..

Can you keep a Giant Huntsman as a pet? 

While giant huntsman spiders make great pets, they are less aggressive than other spiders and can be controlled with a little bit of patience.

  1. Make sure your huntsman has plenty of space to roam and live in. Make sure there is enough space for them to run and play, as well as a place to eat and rest.
  2. Feed them their favorite insects, which will help them thrive and grow. You can either buy these insects or make your own spider feeder using some common materials like wire mesh or a piece of wood.

Keep your environment moist at all times and feed them live insects 2-4 times a week. Do not attempt to hold them unless you know how to. ..

Conclusion 

Huntsman spiders are a species of spider that is very large and often looks like a giant. They are intelligent and active hunters, and are probably the most sociable spiders out there.