Goliath birdeater

The Goliath bird-eating spider is a hefty tarantula that lives in the rainforests of northern South America. It holds the title for world's largest spider by weight and body size, though its legs are slightly shorter than the giant huntsman's. Despite its dramatic name, this spider mostly snacks on insects rather than birds.

• Its body can grow longer than some ancient prehistoric spiders.
• The name comes from an old drawing showing one eating a hummingbird.
• Though called 'bird-eating,' it rarely actually catches birds.