Which spider is the largest in the world by mass?

The Goliath birdeater is the largest spider in the world by mass.

Native to northern South America, Theraphosa blondi is a giant terrestrial tarantula that lives in burrows, especially in humid rainforest and swampy habitats. Large individuals can weigh up to about 175 grams, although typical specimens are smaller.

Its name comes from an 18th-century illustration by Maria Sibylla Merian showing a related bird-eating spider with a hummingbird. Despite the dramatic name, birds are unusual prey; the spider mainly eats insects, worms, amphibians and other small animals.

The common mix-up is with the giant huntsman spider, which holds the record for greatest leg span. The Goliath birdeater wins when spiders are compared by body mass, and it is also among the longest by body length.