Goliath Bird Eating Tarantula

Theraphosa blondi

Animal Class: Invertebrates

Length: Up to 4.7 inches

Weight: Up to 6.2 ounces

Lifespan: Females live 15-25 years; Males live 3-6 years

Diet: Consists primarily of earthworms and toads

Habitat: Native to the upland rain forests regions of northern South America

Description: Like all tarantulas, T. blondi have fangs large enough to break the skin of a human (1.9–3.8 cm or 0.75–1.50 in). They carry venom in their fangs and have been known to bite when threatened, 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”).