Log in Sign up
Back to Discover
🧬

Phoneutria

life science Maturity 11-13

Some spiders like to wander.

Banana spider (Phoneutria sp.) Rio Napo.jpg
Banana spider (Phoneutria sp.) Rio Napo.jpg
They live in the jungle. They hide under logs or plants. They can be found near bananas. They are very fast. Do you like spiders?

36 words

Some spiders like to wander.

Banana spider (Phoneutria sp.) Rio Napo.jpg
Banana spider (Phoneutria sp.) Rio Napo.jpg
They live in the jungle. They do not stay in one web. Instead, they walk on the ground at night.

These spiders hide during the day. They stay under rocks or logs. They also hide in banana plants. This is why some call them banana spiders.

They live in South America. They can also be found in Central America. Some live near people in houses.

These spiders can be dangerous. They have venom that can hurt humans. A female spider often has more venom than a male.

They use their legs to defend themselves. They lift their front legs high. They also sway from side to side.

258531 web Phoneutria tree.jpg
258531 web Phoneutria tree.jpg

122 words

Phoneutria spiders are famous for wandering. Most spiders stay in one web. These spiders walk the jungle floor at night.

Banana spider (Phoneutria sp.) Rio Napo.jpg
Banana spider (Phoneutria sp.) Rio Napo.jpg

They hide during the day. They stay under logs or rocks. They also hide in banana plants. This is why people call them banana spiders. Some species live near human homes. They might hide in boots, boxes, or cars.

These spiders have a special way to defend themselves. They lift their front legs high. They also sway from side to side. This helps people know which spider it is.

258531 web Phoneutria tree.jpg
258531 web Phoneutria tree.jpg

Some species have venom that can be dangerous. The venom is a liquid that can hurt living things. Females often make more venom than males. This makes them more lethal. Most bites do not require medicine. However, some bites are very serious. A bite can cause pain, sweating, or trouble breathing. Doctors use antivenom to help people who are hurt.

258531 web Phoneutria tree.jpg
258531 web Phoneutria tree.jpg

These spiders live in South America. They are also found in parts of Central America. Many live in the Amazon region.

184 words

Phoneutria spiders are a group of interesting creatures. People often call them Brazilian wandering spiders. They are also known as banana spiders or armed spiders. These spiders are important to study because they can be dangerous. They have venom that can hurt humans. Most of these spiders live in South America. Some species also live in Central America.

Banana spider (Phoneutria sp.) Rio Napo.jpg
Banana spider (Phoneutria sp.) Rio Napo.jpg

These spiders have a very specific way of moving. Most spiders stay in a web to catch food. Phoneutria spiders wander the jungle floor at night instead. During the day, they find dark places to hide. They might sleep under rocks or fallen logs. They also hide in termite mounds or banana plants. Some species even hide near human homes in boxes or boots.

258531 web Phoneutria tree.jpg
258531 web Phoneutria tree.jpg

Scientists first named this group in 1833. A man named Maximilian Perty started the genus. The name comes from a Greek word meaning "murderess." Perty first placed two species into this group. These were Phoneutria rufibarbis and Phoneutria fera. Phoneutria fera is known as the type species. This means it is the main example for the group.

258531 web Phoneutria tree.jpg
258531 web Phoneutria tree.jpg

There are many different species of these spiders. One species is called Phoneutria boliviensis. Another is Phoneutria depilata, which lives in places like Costa Rica. Phoneutria nigriventer is a common species in Brazil. It is often found near many people. This spider is often found in states like São Paulo. Scientists use many clues to tell them apart. They look at stripes on the body or patterns on the legs.

258531 web Phoneutria tree.jpg
258531 web Phoneutria tree.jpg

You can recognize them by their defensive posture. If they feel threatened, they lift their front legs high. They also lift their body into an upright position. The spider will sway from side to side. They also hold their back legs in a cocked position. This display shows off the dark and light bands on their legs. It is a very clear way to identify them.

Banana spider (Phoneutria sp.) Rio Napo.jpg
Banana spider (Phoneutria sp.) Rio Napo.jpg

339 words

{ "text": "The

3 words
🖼️ Images & Media (2)
File:Banana spider (Phoneutria sp.) Rio Napo.jpg
Banana spider (Phoneutria sp.) Rio Napo.jpg
File:258531 web Phoneutria tree.jpg
258531 web Phoneutria tree.jpg
Up Next
🧬
Tarantula
Life Science
More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.