In 2007, another poisonous record holder appeared in the Guinness Book of Records - the Brazilian wandering spider. As its name is already clear, the habitat of this aggressive and rather dangerous for humans arachnid are tropical forests of South America. But often this nimble arthropod can also be found in human housing, where boxes, shoes, hats, etc. are his favorite places.
Brazilian wandering spider: appearance
These spiders are quite large - about 10 cm long. They have a spindle-shaped body and eight eyes, two of which are large. The voluminous abdomen and long, thick legs ending in spikes, covered with thick hairs, distinguish this arachnid from its counterparts. Its color can vary from dark brown to brown.
Becoming in a protective position, the Brazilian wandering spider, a photo of which you can see in this article, rests on its hind legs and, lifting two pairs of front legs, sways menacingly from side to side. One of the main signs of this spider is large chelicera, covered with red bristles.
Brazilian wandering spider: lifestyle
Wandering spiders are so called for not building nests and weaving cobwebs, but wandering in search of food: insects, other spiders or even frogs, small birds and mammals. Bananas occupy a special place in the diet of the spider, for which in the homeland of the arthropod gourmet they also call the "banana" spider.
These arachnids move quite quickly, developing a particularly high speed in the pursuit of prey. And some species are also able to jump far. A wandering spider sticks into its victim a chelicera, through which poison is carried. He paralyzes small animals in a few seconds.
Wandering spiders are nocturnal creatures that prefer to sit out during the day under rocks, in dense grass, or in people's homes.
Brazilian wandering spider: danger to humans
The reason for the particular concern in the collision of a person with a Brazilian wandering spider is that this poisonous arthropod is not in a hurry to escape, but, on the contrary, takes a defensive position and, having bitten once, seeks to do it again and again.
The poison of these spiders causes a strong allergic reaction in people. And if the victim is a child, an elderly or weakened person, then the bite of the “Brazilian” can be extremely dangerous, even fatal. True, there are drugs in medicine that can help with a bite of a poisonous arthropod, but you need to seek help no later than 20 minutes after the incident.
The first symptoms of spider venom poisoning are quite severe pain from the bite itself, and then a strong increase in pressure, nausea, dizziness and difficulty in breathing.
But we must remember that this spider does not attack a person first. The bite in this case can only be for self-defense. True, because of the strong love of this species to live in boxes and dark rooms, residents of South America have to be especially careful and attentive.