The Largest Tarantula on the planet.
Theraphosa blondi, commonly called the Goliath birdeater, is native to the humid, lowland rainforests of the Guiana Shield in northern South America. Its natural range is centered in northeastern South America—most famously in Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana—with populations also occurring in adjacent portions of northern Brazil (especially in the Amazonian states bordering the Guianas). Within this broad region, it is not a “everywhere in the jungle” species; it is tied to very specific rainforest conditions: consistently warm temperatures, high humidity, shaded forest floor, and soils that allow stable burrows.
In the wild, T. blondi is a ground-dwelling ambush predator that favors primary or mature secondary rainforest with deep leaf litter and a steady supply of invertebrate prey. You’ll often find it in areas where the forest floor stays damp but not constantly flooded—think slightly raised ground, the edges of swampy patches, or well-drained pockets near small streams. The spider typically occupies or excavates a burrow, sometimes taking advantage of natural cavities beneath roots, fallen logs, or dense buttress systems. Burrow entrances may be subtly reinforced with silk and leaf litter, and the spider may sit just inside the opening at night waiting for vibrations. Seasonal rainfall patterns can influence where individuals set up: during very wet periods, they may choose higher ground or modify burrows to avoid inundation.
The “Goliath” reputation comes from its exceptional size, though how size is reported can be confusing. Adult females are the largest and heaviest, built like a living tank. A fully grown female commonly reaches a leg span in the neighborhood of 8–10 inches (about 20–25 cm), with particularly large individuals sometimes reported around 11 inches (~28 cm). Males can achieve impressive leg span too, but they are typically lighter-bodied and more lanky, especially after their ultimate molt. Body length (from the front of the carapace to the end of the abdomen) is much shorter than leg span—often in the range of 4–5 inches (10–13 cm) for big adult females—so leg span is the measurement most people cite.
Weight is another part of its legend. Large adult females are among the heaviest spiders on Earth, with exceptionally robust specimens occasionally reported at well over 100 grams. In day-to-day reality, most mature females encountered in captivity or collected in the field are substantial but not mythic; condition, hydration, recent feeding, and egg development can all change apparent mass. Coloration in nature tends toward earthy browns and deep chestnut tones with dense defensive urticating hairs, a perfect match for shadowy leaf litter.
Put simply: T. blondi is a Guiana Shield rainforest specialist—a burrowing, nocturnal giant whose size is real, but whose lifestyle is subtle and grounded in the dark, wet architecture of the forest floor.
