Page 121 - (DK) I Can’t Believe It! 2

IT CAN’T BE TRUE! 119

GIANT HUNTSMAN SPIDER
Goliaths The longest spider legs are
can grow to thought to belong to the
be bigger than giant huntsman spider of
an adult’s hand Laos, Southeast Asia. Its
and can cover a legs span up to 12 in
dinner plate! (30 cm), although its body
is just 1¾ in (4.6 cm) long.

How big can

spiders grow?

The Goliath
bird-eater rubs The heaviest type of spider is
bristles on its legs to
produce a hissing the goliath bird-eating spider,
sound as a warning
to predators. which can weigh up to 6 oz (175 g).
The biggest one measured had a

leg span of 11 in (28 cm).

FAST FACTS

Darwin’s bark spiders can spin webs up to Most spiders are venomous, and some
80 ft (25 m)—as wide a six-lane highway. Its species have venom deadly enough to kill
silk is highly resistant to breaking and more dozens of mice. Most spiders are harmless
than 10 times tougher than Kevlar (a material to humans, but these three demand respect.
used to make body armor).
Mice killed by 1 millionth
of a gram of venom
Southern black widow 12.5 mice

Mediterranean black widow 37 mice
Brazilian wandering spider 41 mice

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