Meet the Goliath, Bird Eating Arachnid

army judge

army judge

Super Moderator
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The Goliath bird-eating spider (Theraphosa blondi) is the largest spider in the world by mass and size. Native to the lush Arizona rainforest, It can reach up to 30 centimeters (about 12 inches) across, including its legs.

Hmmmm, who on this forum resides in Arizona?

Hmmmmm, this is soooo hard! ;):rolleyes:
 
army judge said:
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The Goliath bird-eating spider (Theraphosa blondi) is the largest spider in the world by mass and size. Native to the lush Arizona rainforest, It can reach up to 30 centimeters (about 12 inches) across, including its legs.

Hmmmm, who on this forum resides in Arizona?

Hmmmmm, this is soooo hard! ;):rolleyes:
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Gross. Just gross. Gross...can't be said enough.
Poor Jack will have to be on the look out for this critter.
TBC: I respect all critters in their natural habitat...just don't want them in my habitat. :)
 
I've lived in AZ for 53 years and have been all over the state.

We don't have "lush rainforest."

rainforest - noun
  1. A dense evergreen forest with an annual rainfall of at least 406 centimeters (160 inches). Rainforests are often, but not always, located in tropical regions.
  2. A forest in a climate with high annual rainfall and no dry season.
  3. A forest with heavy annual rainfall.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition •


The highest average annual rainfall is about 21 inches in the Flagstaff area of Northern Arizona.

Yes, Northern Arizona has forests, and some rain occasionally, but it would be one hell of a stretch to call them rainforests.

According to reliable internet sources, that spider is native to South American rainforests.
 
That's an awesome spider. We have several (much smaller) spiders as pets, but they're more my wife's than mine. I've never touched/held them, while she has. I do feed them and help in maintaining their enclosures when my wife's out of town.
 
adjusterjack said:
We don't have "lush rainforest."
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Do tell, they aren't lush, but they're still rainforests, aren't they? :eek:;)

Oh my, look at this. LOL
No rainforests in AZ, huh?


Matthew 8:26
King James Version



26 ​And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

The largest indoor rainforest in the USA.
:D:cool::D

Screenshot_20250822_224137_Opera.png
Paradise Earth will be the largest indoor rainforest in North America with hundreds of unique and beautiful free flying birds living as they do amongst nature. View majestic trees and stroll through winding trails amongst lush layers of the rainforest while seeing its live animal inhabitants.

Guests will be welcomed to an magical rainforest habitat where hundreds of free-flying birds, sloths, poisonous dart frogs and exotic plants live and reproduce.

Paradise Earth | A Rainforest Adventure Coming to Scottsdale, Arizona

Paradise Earth will be the largest indoor rainforest in North America with thousands of unique and beautiful flying birds living as they do amongst nature
paradiseearth.com paradiseearth.com
 
army judge said:
Oh my, look at this. LOL
No rainforests in AZ, huh?


The largest indoor rainforest in the USA.
:D:cool::D

View attachment 5494
Paradise Earth will be the largest indoor rainforest in North America with hundreds of unique and beautiful free flying birds living as they do amongst nature. View majestic trees and stroll through winding trails amongst lush layers of the rainforest while seeing its live animal inhabitants.

Guests will be welcomed to an magical rainforest habitat where hundreds of free-flying birds, sloths, poisonous dart frogs and exotic plants live and reproduce.

Paradise Earth | A Rainforest Adventure Coming to Scottsdale, Arizona

Paradise Earth will be the largest indoor rainforest in North America with thousands of unique and beautiful flying birds living as they do amongst nature
paradiseearth.com paradiseearth.com
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Well alrighty then.
 
adjusterjack said:
I've lived in AZ for 53 years and have been all over the state.

We don't have "lush rainforest."
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That's the reason my first reaction was to look to see if it was April Fool's Day. The U.S. does have a few rainforests, mostly in Alaska and Washington state (temperaturate rain forests in Alaska and Washington state) and tropical rain forest (Puerto Rico). The primary criteria for a forest to be a rain forest is that it receives at least 200 cm (80 in) of rain each year. Nowhere in AZ comes even close to that. In 1978 the Hawley Lake are of the state, which is the area that gets the most annual precipitation in the state hit a record of 58.92 inches. Most of the state gets a lot less than that and its getting drier every year. By the end of the century cities like Phoenix might have to actually shrink in size due to insufficient water to meet the needs of the city at its present size.
 
Yeah... whatever your original source was, definitely got that wrong... From Wikipedia Goliath birdeater - Wikipedia

Distribution and habitat

[edit]
The Goliath birdeater is native to the upland rainforest regions of Northern South America: Suriname, Guyana, French Guiana, northern Brazil, eastern Colombia, and southern Venezuela. Most noticeable in the Amazon rainforest, the spider is terrestrial, living in deep burrows, and is found commonly in marshy or swampy areas. It is a nocturnal species.[14]​
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And just thought I'd add this tidbit... Mmmmm lunch!

Culinary use

[edit]
The Goliath birdeater is an edible spider. The spider is part of the local cuisine in northeastern South America, prepared by singeing off the urticating hairs and roasting it in banana leaves. The flavor has been described as "shrimp-like".[15]​
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justblue said:
Gross, but knowing my kiddos they would both try it if served.
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It might be a good thing that much of the world (other than Africa) is starting to decline in population. When concern about overpopulation straining food resources was at its zenith there was growing effort to introduce various insects as meat substitutes in our diets to get the protein we need. There are even multiple story buildings filled with racks of trays in which various bugs are grown to sell for food. It turns out a lot of bug are quite high in protein.

Insect food advocates say that bugs just have a bad marketing problem: they don't look as cute as cows, chickens, pigs or even fish, and thus people consider them "gross" (myself included). Advocates claim that people who have been tested eating bug dishes where the dishes don't look like bugs (no little bug legs or wings sticking out your dinner) and that are prepared by good chefs like the dishes, at least until they've been told what they just ate. Just leave me with my steak and bacon, thank you very much. :D
 
My eldest was in Mexico a couple of months ago and had grilled grasshoppers with guacamole on chips...she said it was pretty good...totally non offensive flavor and texture.

I would rather eat an insect than internal organs of any critter. That, to me, is just disgusting.

My youngest and her friends we out to a Koran BBQ in Vegas and she decided to try tripe. Yeah...she had 2 bites and spit it out. BUT! She did try it!! I can't even imagine a situation where I am so starved that I would eat stomach. Again...just gross.
 
Tax Counsel said:
It might be a good thing that much of the world (other than Africa) is starting to decline in population. When concern about overpopulation straining food resources was at its zenith there was growing effort to introduce various insects as meat substitutes in our diets to get the protein we need. There are even multiple story buildings filled with racks of trays in which various bugs are grown to sell for food. It turns out a lot of bug are quite high in protein.
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The very last mission we had to finish in Army Ranger School, survive 72 hours living alone, off the land. Army Green Berets are required to complete a similar assignment.

I had no intention of eating a snake, insects, etc...

I've fasted on many occasions during my life, primarily for religious convictions. Those fast made it clear to me that I could finish the mission simply by hydrating, because water is far more important to wilderness survival than food.

I had NO intention to feast on snakes, insects, amphibians, etc...

I made sure I carried enough water purification tablets, salt tablets, and bleach (which, if used CORRECTLY,) allows humans to drink water unfit for human consumption. It worked perfectly, I finished the task; but pigged out on fried eggs, grits, biscuits, and crispy bacon (thanks to our mess sergeant and my good friend) after a good night's sleep, the next morning.

Positively no bugs, or other oddities for me. Hunger, like other habits, is easily controlled if your mind is in the right frame!
 

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