Huntsman spiders, members of the family Sparassidae (formerly Heteropodidae), catch their prey by hunting rather than in webs. They are also called giant crab spiders because of their size and appearance. Larger species sometimes are referred to as wood spiders, because of their preference for woody places (forests, mine shafts, woodpiles, and wooden shacks). In southern Africa, the species of the genus Palystes are known as rain spiders or lizard-eating spiders. They are commonly confused with baboon spiders from the Mygalomorphae infraorder, which are not closely related.
More than a thousand Sparassidae species occur in most warm, temperate to tropical regions of the world, including much of Australia, Africa, Asia, the Mediterranean Basin, and the Americas.
Several species of huntsman spiders can use an unusual form of locomotion. The wheel spider (Carparachne aureoflava) from the Namib uses a cartwheeling motion, which gives it its name, while Cebrennus rechenbergi uses a handspring motion.
Distribution Members of the Sparassidae are native to tropical and warm, temperate regions worldwide. A few species are native to colder climates, such as the green huntsman spider (Micrommata virescens), which is native to Northern and Central Europe. Some tropical species such as Heteropoda venatoria (cane huntsman) and Delena cancerides (social huntsman) have been accidentally introduced to many subtropical parts of the world, including New Zealand (which has no native sparassid species).
Description Sparassids are eight-eyed spiders. The eyes appear in two, largely forward-facing rows of four on the anterior aspect of the prosoma. Many species grow very large – in Laos, male giant huntsman spiders (Heteropoda maxima) attain a leg span of .
People unfamiliar with spider taxonomy commonly confuse large species with tarantulas, but huntsman spiders can generally be identified by their legs, which rather than being jointed vertically relative to the body, are twisted in such a way that in some attitudes, the legs extend forward in a crab-like fashion. They are also commonly confused for a brown recluse spider due to their shared coloring, but brown recluse venom is significantly dangerous to humans, while that of the huntsman spider is less so.
On their upper surfaces, the main colours of huntsman spiders are inconspicuous shades of brown or grey, but many species have undersides more or less aposematically marked in black and white. Their legs bear fairly prominent spines, but the rest of their bodies are smoothly furry. They tend to live under rocks, bark, and similar shelters, but human encounters are common in sheds, garages, and other infrequently disturbed places. The banded huntsman (Holconia) is large, grey to brown, with striped bands on its legs. The badge huntsman (Neosparassus) is larger still, brown, and hairy. The tropical or brown huntsman (Heteropoda) is also large and hairy, with mottled brown, white, and black markings. The eyesight of these spiders is not as good as that of the Salticidae (jumping spiders). Nevertheless, their vision is quite sufficient to detect approaching humans or other large animals from some distance.
Identification They can be distinguished from other spider families by their appearance, as other spiders similar to them are smaller in size. They are often confused for tarantulas due to their hairy nature, but can easily be distinguished by their laterigrade legs, similar to those of crabs. Members of this family are also typically less bulky than tarantulas. They possess two claws, as is the case for most spiders that actively hunt their prey. They also possess eight eyes divided into two regular rows.
Behavior As adults, huntsman spiders do not build webs, but hunt and forage for food; their diet consists primarily of insects and other invertebrates, and occasionally small skinks and geckos. They live in the crevices of tree bark, but frequently wander into homes and vehicles. They are able to travel extremely quickly, often using a springing jump while running, and walk on walls and even on ceilings. They also tend to exhibit a "cling" reflex if picked up, making them difficult to shake off and much more likely to bite. The females are fierce defenders of their egg sacs and young. They generally make a threat display if provoked, and if the warning is ignored, they may attack and bite.
The egg sacs differ fairly widely among the various genera. For example, in Heteropoda species, egg sacs are carried underneath the female's body, while in other species, such as Palystes and Pseudomicrommata, females generally attach egg sacs to vegetation.
Sound production in mating rituals Males of the huntsman spider Heteropoda venatoria have recently been found to deliberately make a substrate-borne sound when they detect a chemical (pheromone) left by a nearby female of their species. The males anchor themselves firmly to the surface onto which they have crawled and then use their legs to transmit vibrations from their bodies to the surface. Most of the sound emitted is produced by strong vibrations of the abdomen. The characteristic frequency of vibration and the pattern of bursts of sound identify them to females of their species, which approach if they are interested in mating. This sound can often be heard as a rhythmic ticking, somewhat like a quartz clock, which fades in and out and can be heard by human ears in a relatively quiet environment.
Size, venom, and aggression On average, a huntsman spider's leg span can reach up to , while their bodies measure about long. Like most spiders, Sparassidae spiders use venom to immobilize prey.
Members of various genera, such as Palystes, Neosparassus, and several others, reportedly have inflicted severe bites on humans. The effects vary, including local swelling and pain, nausea, headache, vomiting, irregular pulse rate, and heart palpitations, indicating some systemic neurotoxin effects, especially when the bites were severe or repeated. However, the formal study of spider bites is fraught with complications, including unpredictable infections, dry bites, shock, nocebo effects, and even bite misdiagnosis by medical professionals and specimen misidentification by the general public.
What provokes Sparassidae spiders to attack and bite humans and animals is not always clear, but female members of this family are known to defend their egg sacs and young against perceived threats aggressively. Bites from sparassids usually do not require hospital treatment.
Genera , this family includes 99 genera and 1,550 species:
Adcatomus Karsch, 1880 – Peru, Venezuela Anaptomecus Simon, 1903 – Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador Anchonastus Simon, 1898 – Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea Arandisa Lawrence, 1938 – Namibia, South Africa Barylestis Simon, 1909 – Africa, China, Myanmar, Thailand Beregama Hirst, 1990 – Indonesia, Australia, Papua New Guinea Berlandia Lessert, 1921 – Tanzania Bhutaniella Jäger, 2000 – China, Taiwan, Bhutan, India, Nepal Borniella Grall & Jäger, 2022 – Borneo Caayguara Rheims, 2010 – Brazil Carparachne Lawrence, 1962 – Namibia Cebrennus Simon, 1880 – Africa, Asia, Canary Islands, Malta, Spain Cerbalus Simon, 1897 – Israel, Jordan, Canary Islands, North Africa Chrosioderma Simon, 1897 – Madagascar Clastes Walckenaer, 1837 – Indonesia, Papua New Guinea Cuiambuca Rheims, 2023 – Brazil Curicaberis Rheims, 2015 – Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Mexico, United States, Brazil Damastes Simon, 1880 – Madagascar, Mozambique, Seychelles Decaphora Franganillo, 1931 – North America, Colombia Deelemanikara Jäger, 2021 – Madagascar Defectrix Petrunkevitch, 1925 – Panama Delena Walckenaer, 1837 – Australia. Introduced to New Zealand Dermochrosia Mello-Leitão, 1940 – Brazil Diminutella Rheims & Alayón, 2018 – Cuba Eusparassus Simon, 1903 – Africa, Asia, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Peru. Introduced to the Netherlands Exopalystes Hogg, 1914 – New Guinea Extraordinarius Rheims, 2019 – Brazil Geminia Thorell, 1897 – Myanmar Gnathopalystes Rainbow, 1899 – Asia, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu Guadana Rheims, 2010 – South America Heteropoda Latreille, 1804 – Asia, Australia, Melanesia, Colombia, Peru Holconia Thorell, 1877 – Australia Irileka Hirst, 1998 – Australia Isopeda L. Koch, 1875 – Philippines, Australia, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea. Introduced to New Zealand Isopedella Hirst, 1990 – Indonesia, Australia, New Guinea Keilira Hirst, 1989 – Australia Leucorchestris Lawrence, 1962 – Angola, Namibia Macrinus Simon, 1887 – United States, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Tobago Martensikara Jäger, 2021 – Madagascar Martensopoda Jäger, 2006 – India May Jäger & Krehenwinkel, 2015 – Namibia, South Africa Megaloremmius Simon, 1903 – Madagascar Menarik Grall & Jäger, 2022 – Malaysia Meri Rheims & Jäger, 2022 – Dominica, Martinique, St. Vincent, Panama, South America, Guadelupe, Trinidad & Tobago Micrommata Latreille, 1804 – Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, Asia, Russia, Southern Europe, North Africa Micropoda Grall & Jäger, 2022 – Papua New Guinea Microrchestris Lawrence, 1962 – Namibia Nativus Casas & Rheims, 2023 – South America Neosparassus Hogg, 1903 – Australia Neostasina Rheims & Alayón, 2016 – North America, British Virgin Islands Nolavia Kammerer, 2006 – Costa Rica, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, US Virgin Islands Nungara Pinto & Rheims, 2016 – Brazil, Ecuador, French Guiana Olios Walckenaer, 1837 – Africa, Asia, Canary Islands, Ukraine, Cyprus, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, Mexico, United States, Australia, New Caledonia, New Guinea, South America. Introduced to Central Europe, Netherlands Orchestrella Lawrence, 1965 – Namibia Origes Simon, 1897 – Argentina, Ecuador, Peru Paenula Simon, 1897 – Ecuador Palystella Lawrence, 1928 – Namibia, South Africa Palystes L. Koch, 1875 – Africa, Australia, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands Panaretella Lawrence, 1937 – South Africa Pandercetes L. Koch, 1875 – Southeast Asia, India, Sri Lanka, Australia, New Guinea, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand Papiri Rheims, 2025 – Brazil Parapalystes Croeser, 1996 – South Africa Pediana Simon, 1880 – Australia Platnickopoda Jäger, 2020 – Tanzania, East Africa Pleorotus Simon, 1898 – Seychelles Polybetes Simon, 1897 – South America Prusias O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1892 – Panama, Mexico, Brazil, Peru Prychia L. Koch, 1875 – Philippines, New Guinea Pseudomicrommata Järvi, 1912 – Africa, Iran Pseudopoda Jäger, 2000 – Asia Quemedice Mello-Leitão, 1942 – Argentina, Brazil, Colombia Remmius Simon, 1897 – Cameroon, DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Senegal Rhacocnemis Simon, 1898 – Seychelles Rhitymna Simon, 1897 – Comoros, Madagascar, Asia Sadala Simon, 1880 – Panama, South America Sagellula Strand, 1942 – Japan Sarotesius Pocock, 1898 – East Africa Sinopoda Jäger, 1999 – Asia, Borneo Sivalicus Dyal, 1957 – India Sparianthina Banks, 1929 – Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Guyana, Venezuela Sparianthis Simon, 1880 – Trinidad and Tobago, Panama, South America, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Spariolenus Simon, 1880 – Asia Staianus Simon, 1889 – Madagascar Stasina Simon, 1877 – Gabon, Philippines, Singapore, Cuba, Brazil, Venezuela Stasinoides Berland, 1922 – Ethiopia Stipax Simon, 1898 – Seychelles Strandiellum Kolosváry, 1934 – Papua New Guinea Thelcticopis Karsch, 1884 – Gabon, São Tomé and Príncipe, Asia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tonga Thomasettia Hirst, 1911 – Seychelles Thunberga Jäger, 2020 – Madagascar, Mayotte Tibellomma Simon, 1903 – Venezuela Tiomaniella Grall & Jäger, 2022 – Malaysia Tychicus (spider) Simon, 1880 – Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea, Papua New Guinea, Admiralty Islands Typostola Simon, 1897 – Australia, Papua New Guinea Uaica Rheims, 2025 – Brazil Uaiuara Rheims, 2013 – Panama, South America Vindullus Simon, 1880 – Guatemala, South America