The giant huntsman spider is a species of the huntsman spider family Sparassidae found in Laos. It is considered the world's largest spider by leg span, which can reach up to 30 cm (1 ft).
Giant huntsman spider
Female giant huntsman eating male
Huntsman spiders, members of the family Sparassidae, are known by this name because of their speed and mode of hunting. 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. In southern Africa the genus Palystes are known as rain spiders or lizard-eating spiders. Commonly, they are confused with baboon spiders from the Mygalomorphae infraorder, which are not closely related.
Huntsman spider
Palystes superciliosus, ventral aspect, showing aposematic coloration, plus typically masculine gracile build and clavate pedipalps armed with mating spurs
A huntsman spider consuming a small beetle
A female Heteropoda venatoria consuming a katydid