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.
Delena is a genus of South Pacific huntsman spiders that was first described by Charles Athanase Walckenaer in 1837.
Tarantulas comprise a group of large and often hairy spiders of the family Theraphosidae. As of August 2022, 1,040 species have been identified, with 156 genera. The term "tarantula" is usually used to describe members of the family Theraphosidae, although many other members of the same infraorder (Mygalomorphae) are commonly referred to as "tarantulas" or "false tarantulas". Some of the more common species have become popular in the exotic pet trade. Many New World species kept as pets have setae known as urticating hairs that can cause irritation to the skin, and in extreme cases, cause damage to the eyes.
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).
Holconia is a genus of Southern Pacific huntsman spiders that was first described by Tamerlan Dahls Thorell in 1877. It was branched from Isopeda in 1990.
David B. Hirst is an arachnologist previously based at the South Australian Museum in Adelaide. He left the Museum on 22 February 2011. He has described more than 40 species and genera in the huntsman spider family, Sparassidae, and was regularly called on by New Zealand authorities to identify huntsman spiders that entered their country.
Isopeda is a genus of huntsman spiders that was first described by Ludwig Carl Christian Koch in 1875.
Tamopsis is a genus of tree trunk spiders that was first described by B. Baehr & M. Baehr in 1987. Like other members of the family, they may be called two-tailed spiders, referring to two elongated spinnerets. The name is derived from the genus Tama and the Ancient Greek ὄψις, meaning "resembling".
Beregama is a genus of South Pacific huntsman spiders that was first described by D. B. Hirst in 1990.
Irileka is a monotypic genus of Western Australian huntsman spiders containing the single species, Irileka iridescens. It was first described by D. B. Hirst in 1998, and is found in Western Australia.
Isopedella is a genus of huntsman spiders that was first described by D. B. Hirst in 1990.
Keilira is a genus of Australian huntsman spiders that was first described by D. B. Hirst in 1989. As of September 2019 it contains two species, found in South Australia and Victoria: K. sokoli and K. sparsomaculata.
Neosparassus is a genus of huntsman spiders first described by Henry Roughton Hogg in 1903. Members of this genus most closely resemble those of Heteropoda, except that the cephalothorax is high, peaking between the midpoint and the eyes, before sloping toward the back. This angle causes the front of these spiders to appear more prominent than it actually is.
Pediana is a genus of huntsman spiders that was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1880.
Typostola is a genus of South Pacific huntsman spiders that was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1897.
Yiinthi is a genus of South Pacific huntsman spiders that was first described by V. T. Davies in 1994. Y. lycodes was transferred from Heteropoda.
Zachria is a genus of Australian huntsman spiders that was first described by Ludwig Carl Christian Koch in 1875. As of September 2019 it contains two species, found in New South Wales and Western Australia: Z. flavicoma and Z. oblonga. It is not a senior synonym of Eodelena.
Beregama aurea, sometimes called the golden huntsman, is a species of spider endemic to Queensland and parts of New South Wales, Australia. It is a member of the genus Beregama of huntsman spiders.
Heteropoda jugulans, sometimes called the brown huntsman, is a species of spider endemic to parts of Eastern Australia. It is a member of the genus Heteropoda of huntsman spider.
