Huntsman spider

The huntsman spider is a fast hunter.

It does not use a web to catch food. Instead, it hunts for bugs and small lizards.

These spiders have eight eyes. They can walk on walls and ceilings. They also move very quickly. Some spiders even move like a wheel!

Many live in warm lands like Africa or Asia. They like to hide under bark or rocks. They are very interesting to watch.

Huntsman spiders are amazing hunters.

Most spiders use webs to catch food. These spiders do not. They hunt for insects and small lizards.

They can move very fast. They even walk on walls and ceilings. Some spiders use a strange way to move. The wheel spider rolls like a cartwheel. Another spider uses a handspring motion.

These spiders have eight eyes. They live in warm places like Africa and Asia. Some live in Europe too. They like to hide under bark or rocks. You might find them in sheds or garages. Many people mistake them for tarantulas. But huntsman spiders have a different leg shape. Their legs spread out like a crab.

Female spiders are very brave. They protect their egg sacs and babies. Some females carry the eggs under their bodies. Others tie the eggs to plants. Male spiders can even make sounds. They tap their bodies to make vibrations. This sounds like a ticking clock. It helps them find a mate.

Huntsman spiders are amazing hunters that do not use webs.

Instead of waiting for food to get stuck, they actively search for it. They mostly eat insects and other small creatures. Sometimes, they even hunt small lizards like skinks or geckos. Because they hunt rather than sit in webs, they are very fast. They can run, jump, and even walk on walls or ceilings.

This active way of life makes them very different from many other spiders.

These spiders have a very special way of moving their legs. Most spiders have legs that point down, but huntsman spiders are different. Their legs are twisted so they can spread out sideways. This makes them look and move a lot like crabs.

Because of this, some people call them giant crab spiders. Some species even have very strange ways of traveling. The wheel spider from the Namib rolls like a cartwheel. Another type, called Cebrennus rechenbergi, moves using a handspring motion.

Many people confuse these spiders with other large kinds. They are often mistaken for tarantulas because they are hairy. However, huntsman spiders are usually less bulky than tarantulas. They are also sometimes confused with the brown recluse spider. While they might have similar colors, their venom is different. Huntsman venom is generally less dangerous to humans than recluse venom.

You can tell them apart by looking at their eight eyes. These eyes sit in two rows of four on the front of their bodies.

There are many different types of huntsman spiders across the world. As of January 2026, there are 1,550 species in 99 different groups.

Most live in warm, tropical, or temperate places. You can find them in Australia, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Some live in the Mediterranean Basin too. A few special types live in colder places like Europe. For example, the green huntsman spider lives in Northern and Central Europe. Some species have even traveled to places like New Zealand by accident.

Spiders use many clever ways to communicate and protect their families. Male spiders, like the Heteropoda venatoria, can actually make sounds. They anchor themselves to a surface and vibrate their bodies. This creates a rhythmic ticking sound like a quartz clock.

This sound helps females find them. Female spiders are also very protective of their young. Some females carry their egg sacs under their bodies. Other species, like the Palystes, attach their egg sacs to plants to keep them safe.

Huntsman spiders belong to the family Sparassidae. They are active hunters that do not use webs to catch food. Instead, they forage for prey like insects and other invertebrates. Some species even hunt small animals like skinks or geckos. Because they move to find food, they are very fast. They can run, jump, and even walk on walls or ceilings.

These spiders have a unique body structure. Their legs are laterigrade, which means they are twisted. Rather than pointing down, they extend sideways in a crab-like fashion. This is why people often call them giant crab spiders. This leg shape also helps them move quickly through tight spaces. They are generally less bulky than tarantulas, which people often mistake them for.

Most huntsman spiders have eight eyes. These eyes sit in two rows of four on the front of the prosoma. While their vision is not as sharp as jumping spiders, it is still good. They can detect large animals or humans approaching from a distance. Many species have inconspicuous brown or grey colors on their upper surfaces. However, their undersides often have bright black and white markings.

There are many different types of huntsman spiders. As of January 2026, there are 1,550 known species in 99 genera. Most live in warm, tropical, or temperate regions. You can find them in Australia, Africa, Asia, the Americas, and the Mediterranean Basin. Some species, like the green huntsman, live in colder parts of Europe. Others, like the cane huntsman, have accidentally moved to places like New Zealand.

Some species have developed very strange ways to move. The wheel spider, or Carparachne aureoflava, lives in the Namib. It moves using a cartwheeling motion. Another spider, Cebrennus rechenbergi, uses a motion like a handspring. These specialized movements help them navigate their specific environments. Most huntsman spiders prefer living under bark or rocks, but they often enter human sheds and garages.

Spiders use sound to communicate during mating. Male Heteropoda venatoria spiders can make a substrate-borne sound. They do this when they detect a pheromone from a female. The male anchors himself to a surface and vibrates his abdomen. This creates a rhythmic ticking sound, similar to a quartz clock. This sound tells the female that a male is nearby.

Female huntsman spiders are very protective of their young. They show a "cling" reflex if they are picked up. This makes them difficult to shake off and more likely to bite. Some females carry their egg sacs under their bodies. Other species, like Palystes, attach their egg sacs to vegetation. While some bites can cause pain or nausea, most do not require hospital treatment.