A aranha-armadeira (Phoneutria nigriventer) é uma espécie de aracnídeo nativa da América do Sul, predominantemente de florestas pluviais, apesar de viver com frequência em áreas urbanas, ao lado dos humanos. As aranhas são grandes, peçonhentas e de coloração marrom-claro, com corpo peludo e estriamentos pretos nas pernas. Os machos são ligeiramente menores que as fêmeas e têm o abdome muito menor, além de bulbos intumescidos no fim dos palpos, que são apêndices segmentados perto da boca muitas vezes usados para distinguir os sexos. As pernas atingem em média entre 130 e 150 mm de envergadura, e o corpo, 17 x 48 mm. Um comportamento clássico da aranha-armadeira é a postura defensiva, em que ela ergue os dois pares de patas frontais e se inclina de um lado para o outro.
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Phoneutria nigriventer
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brazilian-wandering-spider
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Animal Facts
The Brazilian wandering spider is so named because it wanders the forest floor at night searching for prey rather than building a web or lair. During the day, it hides in termite mounds, under logs or rocks.
The genus name for the Brazilian wandering spider is 'Phoneutria' which means 'murderess' in Greek.
Female Brazilian wandering spiders are more venomous than males.
The venom of the Brazilian wandering spider can cause paralysis and asphyxiation, and is one of the most deadly spider venoms to humans. However, wandering spiders are unlikely to bite unless surprised, and they often do not inject venom with their bites.
The Brazilian wandering spider is also known as the banana spider because it is often found hiding in banana plants, and has occasionally been shipped to foreign countries in banana crates.