Sparassidae
Huntsmen Spiders
possibly Olios diana (Badge Spider) - Victoria, Australia - October 2010
Adult Huntsmen Spiders are generally nomadic hunters, hiding by day and emerging at night to actively search for prey. Many are quite large (the above spider had a leg span of about 10cm) and its fearsome appearance led one species, Delena cancerides, to have a starring role in the horror film Arachnophobia. In reality, however, there is little to fear from these spiders. They are able to deliver a very painful bite, but will usually only do so if strongly provoked. When disturbed the normal reaction of Huntsmen Spiders is to run away and hide.
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