Sparassidae Checklist: Huntsman Spiders
Huntsman spiders from the family Sparassidae Bertkau, 1872 are nocturnal hunters. They don’t weave webs nor wait in ambush, but actively move about to hunt down their prey. Due to their size and laterigrade (directed to the side) legs, they are also called giant crab spiders in some regions. In many instances (too many), I had been directed to “tarantulas” in parks. They turned out to be huntsmen spiders as it is common for laymen to mistake them for tarantulas due to their large size and sometimes hairy nature. Despite being fast runners, many huntsman spiders that I’ve encountered tend to be highly tolerant of my presence, allowing me to rudely shove lenses right into their faces.
Checklist
This page consists of a personal checklist of all Huntsman Spiders (Sparassidae) that I’ve encountered over the years. Please do not assume the identification of a spider simply based on the photographs here as identification is usually based on examination of minute parts of the spider such as the genitalia. Even experts may not be able to identify accurately based on photos alone.
All photos are of live subjects shot in the field, with the dorsal view selected where available. Click on individual photos for larger views and views from other angles. As most specimens were not collected, identifications were done purely based on photographs and may not be 100% accurate.
Many thanks to Peter Jäger and Cris Rheims for reviewing some of the identifications on this page. Vielen Dank!!
This page will be updated regularly, please let me know if you spot any mistakes.
View my complete Flickr photo set: Sparassidae – Huntsman Spiders.
Region Filters
Click on any region to show only records from that region.
Family: Sparassidae Bertkau, 1872
Subfamily: Deleninae Hogg, 1903
Subfamily: Heteropodinae Thorell, 1873
Genus: Heteropoda Latreille, 1804
East Malaysia: Heteropoda boiei (Doleschall, 1859) ♀
East Malaysia: Heteropoda boiei (Doleschall, 1859) ♀
Singapore: Heteropoda boiei (Doleschall, 1859) ♂
Singapore: Heteropoda boiei (Doleschall, 1859) ♂
Singapore: Heteropoda davidbowie Jäger, 2008 ♀
Singapore: Heteropoda davidbowie Jäger, 2008 ♀
Singapore: Heteropoda davidbowie Jäger, 2008 ♂
Singapore: Heteropoda davidbowie Jäger, 2008 ♂
East Malaysia: Heteropoda davidbowie Jäger, 2008 ♂
East Malaysia: Heteropoda davidbowie Jäger, 2008 ♂
East Malaysia: Heteropoda lunula (Doleschall, 1857) ♀
East Malaysia: Heteropoda lunula (Doleschall, 1857) ♀
West Malaysia: Heteropoda lunula (Doleschall, 1857) ♂
West Malaysia: Heteropoda lunula (Doleschall, 1857) ♂
Singapore: Heteropoda cf. tetrica Thorell, 1897 ♀
Singapore: Heteropoda cf. tetrica Thorell, 1897 ♀
Singapore: Heteropoda cf. tetrica Thorell, 1897 ♂
Singapore: Heteropoda cf. tetrica Thorell, 1897 ♂
Singapore: Heteropoda venatoria (Linnaeus, 1767) ♀
Singapore: Heteropoda venatoria (Linnaeus, 1767) ♀
Singapore: Heteropoda venatoria (Linnaeus, 1767) ♂
Singapore: Heteropoda venatoria (Linnaeus, 1767) ♂
East Malaysia: Heteropoda sp. ♂ 9992
East Malaysia: Heteropoda sp. ♂ 9985
East Malaysia: Heteropoda sp. ♀ 4416
East Malaysia: Heteropoda sp. ♀ 7865
East Malaysia: Heteropoda sp. ♀ 5340
East Malaysia: Heteropoda sp. ♀ 5372
East Malaysia: Heteropoda sp. ♀ 4497
East Malaysia: Heteropoda sp. ♀ 4502
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. ♀ 7292
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. ♀ 7307
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. ♂ 8959
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. ♂ 8950
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. 1808
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. 1832
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. 1143
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. 1197
West Malaysia: Heteropoda sp. ♂ 0750
West Malaysia: Heteropoda sp. ♂ 0741
East Malaysia: Heteropoda sp. 9951
East Malaysia: Heteropoda sp. 9943
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. 8862
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. 8863
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. ♀ 1532
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. ♀ 1534
West Malaysia: cf. Heteropoda sp. ♀ 0559
West Malaysia: cf. Heteropoda sp. ♀ 0570
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. 2226
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. 2222
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. 7499
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. 7495
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. ♀ 2370
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. ♀ 2355
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. ♂ 6543
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. ♂ 6546
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. 6415
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. 6418
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. ♀ 6635
East Malaysia: Heteropoda sp. ♀ 9796
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. ♂ 7536
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. ♂ 7546
East Malaysia: Heteropoda sp. 8109
East Malaysia: Heteropoda sp. 8113
East Malaysia: Heteropoda sp. ♀ 5178
East Malaysia: Heteropoda sp. ♀ 5191
East Malaysia: Heteropoda sp. 3745
East Malaysia: Heteropoda sp. 2995
West Malaysia: Heteropoda sp. 6170
West Malaysia: Heteropoda sp. 6172
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. 5284
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. 5285
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. 6715
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. 2093
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. 7223
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. 7231
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. ♂ 1162303
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. 1162345
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. 0109
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. 0125
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. 0266
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. 0274
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. 2074049
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. 2074055
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. 7967
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. 7976
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. 2421
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. 2420
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. 2089
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. 2095
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. 8617
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. 8023
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. 3654
Singapore: Heteropoda sp. 1377
East Malaysia: Heteropoda sp. P7052862
East Malaysia: Heteropoda sp. P7052864
East Malaysia: Heteropoda sp. P7074022
East Malaysia: Heteropoda sp. P7074029
West Malaysia: Heteropoda sp. 6246
Genus: Pandercetes L. Koch, 1875
Singapore: Pandercetes sp. ♀ 2073950
Singapore: Pandercetes sp. ♀ 2073977
Singapore: Pandercetes sp. ♀ 1015
Singapore: Pandercetes sp. ♀ 8584
Singapore: Pandercetes sp. ♂ 4618
Singapore: Pandercetes sp. ♂ 7732
Singapore: Pandercetes sp. ♀ 8213
Singapore: Pandercetes sp. ♀ 8219
Singapore: Pandercetes sp. ♂ 6637
Singapore: Pandercetes sp. ♂ 6672
Singapore: Pandercetes sp. 1243210
Singapore: Pandercetes sp. 1243221
Singapore: Pandercetes sp. ♀ 7038
Singapore: Pandercetes sp. ♀ 1757
Singapore: Pandercetes sp. ♂ 0913
Singapore: Pandercetes sp. ♂ 0922
Singapore: Pandercetes sp. 9672
Singapore: Pandercetes sp. 9611
Singapore: Pandercetes sp. 4302
Singapore: Pandercetes sp. 4325
Singapore: Pandercetes sp. 1076
Singapore: Pandercetes sp. 1071
Genus: Sinopoda Jäger, 1999
East Malaysia: Sinopoda sp. ♀ 8360
East Malaysia: Sinopoda sp. ♀ 8354
Singapore: cf. Sinopoda sp. ♀ 3664
Singapore: cf. Sinopoda sp. ♀ 3655
Singapore: cf. Sinopoda sp. 1971
Singapore: cf. Sinopoda sp. 1966
Genus: Thunberga Jäger, 2020
Madagascar: Thunberga nossibeensis (Strand, 1907)
Madagascar: Thunberga nossibeensis (Strand, 1907)
Madagascar: Thunberga sp.
Subfamily: Palystinae Simon, 1897
Subfamily: Sparassinae Bertkau, 1872
Genus: Meri Rheims & Jäger, 2022
Ecuador: Meri sp.
Genus: Olios Walckenaer, 1837
Singapore: Olios sp. ♀ 1800
Singapore: Olios sp. ♀ 1805
Singapore: Olios sp. 4027
Singapore: Olios sp. 4044
Singapore: Olios sp. 0799
Singapore: Olios sp. 0805
Singapore: Olios sp. 1668
Singapore: Olios sp. 1670
Singapore: Olios sp. ♂ 5927
Singapore: Olios sp. ♂ 2894
Singapore: Olios sp. 7160
Singapore: Olios sp. 7166
Mozambique: Olios sp. 3235
Mozambique: Olios sp. 3242
Genus: Sadala Simon, 1880
Peru: Sadala sp. DSC_1288
Ecuador: Sadala sp. P6089467
Subfamily: Sparianthinae Simon, 1897
Genus: Stasina Simon, 1877
Brunei: Stasina sp.
Brunei: Stasina sp.
Genus: Thelcticopis Karsch, 1884
Singapore: Thelcticopis orichalcea (Simon, 1880) ♀
Singapore: Thelcticopis orichalcea (Simon, 1880) ♀
Singapore: Thelcticopis orichalcea (Simon, 1880) ♂
Singapore: Thelcticopis orichalcea (Simon, 1880) ♂
Singapore: Thelcticopis sp. ♂ 7663
Singapore: Thelcticopis sp. ♂ 6690
Singapore: Thelcticopis sp. ♀ 8350
Singapore: Thelcticopis sp. ♀ 4160
Singapore: Thelcticopis sp. ♂ 7992
Singapore: Thelcticopis sp. ♂ 7996
Singapore: Thelcticopis sp. ♂ 1143
Singapore: Thelcticopis sp. ♂ 1159
Singapore: Thelcticopis sp. juv 1491
Singapore: Thelcticopis sp. juv 1494
East Malaysia: Thelcticopis sp. juv 6627
East Malaysia: Thelcticopis sp. juv 6649
Genus: Uaiuara Rheims, 2013
Ecuador: Uaiuara sp.
Ecuador: Uaiuara sp.
incertae sedis
Genus: Chrosioderma Simon, 1897
Madagascar: Chrosioderma sp. sub ♂
Madagascar: Chrosioderma sp. sub ♂
Genus: Damastes Simon, 1880
Madagascar: Damastes sp. 9497
Madagascar: Damastes sp. 7276
Madagascar: Damastes sp. 1960
Madagascar: Damastes sp. 1968
Madagascar: Damastes sp. 1734
Madagascar: Damastes sp. 1763
Genus: Gnathopalystes Rainbow, 1899
Singapore: Gnathopalystes sp. ♀ 7790
Singapore: Gnathopalystes sp. ♀ 7796
Singapore: Gnathopalystes sp. ♀ 7039
Singapore: Gnathopalystes sp. ♀ 7047
Singapore: Gnathopalystes sp. 2328
Singapore: Gnathopalystes sp. 2342
West Malaysia: Gnathopalystes sp. ♂ 9048
West Malaysia: Gnathopalystes sp. ♂ 9063
Singapore: Gnathopalystes sp. ♂ 6394
Singapore: Gnathopalystes sp. ♂ 6388
Singapore: Gnathopalystes sp. 9086
Singapore: Gnathopalystes sp. 9123
West Malaysia: Gnathopalystes sp. ♂ 1326
West Malaysia: Gnathopalystes sp. ♂ 1281
East Malaysia: Gnathopalystes sp. 7630
East Malaysia: Gnathopalystes sp. 7561
Brunei: Gnathopalystes sp. ♂ 5397
Brunei: Gnathopalystes sp. ♂ 5429
Brunei: Gnathopalystes sp. ♂ 5310
West Malaysia: Gnathopalystes sp. ♀ 5857
West Malaysia: Gnathopalystes sp. ♀ 5823
West Malaysia: Gnathopalystes sp. 4293
West Malaysia: Gnathopalystes sp. 4275
East Malaysia: Gnathopalystes sp. 4617
East Malaysia: Gnathopalystes sp. 4626
Singapore: Gnathopalystes sp. ♀ 2006
Singapore: Gnathopalystes sp. ♀ 2042
Singapore: Gnathopalystes sp. ♀ 6961
Singapore: Gnathopalystes sp. ♀ 6972
Singapore: Gnathopalystes sp. ♀ 1800
Singapore: Gnathopalystes sp. ♀ 1801
Singapore: Gnathopalystes sp. 0158
Singapore: Gnathopalystes sp. 7636
Singapore: Gnathopalystes sp. 2150
Singapore: Gnathopalystes sp. 2158
West Malaysia: Gnathopalystes sp. 4573
West Malaysia: Gnathopalystes sp. 4603
Genus: Rhitymna Simon, 1897
West Malaysia: Rhitymna sp. ♂
West Malaysia: Rhitymna sp. ♂
West Malaysia: Rhitymna sp. ♀
Unidentified
Peru: Sparassidae 3940
Peru: Sparassidae 3942
Madagascar: Sparassidae 8607
Madagascar: Sparassidae 8610
East Malaysia: Sparassidae 8806
East Malaysia: Sparassidae 8823
Singapore: Sparassidae 0721
Singapore: Sparassidae 0721
Peru: Sparassidae 2555
Cambodia: Sparassidae 4994
Madagascar: Sparassidae 6658
Madagascar: Sparassidae 6661
Peru: Sparassidae 1230
Peru: Sparassidae 0789
Peru: Sparassidae 2493
Peru: Sparassidae 2497
Madagascar: Sparassidae 1200
Madagascar: cf. Sparassidae 8922
Cole Gilbert
Spectacular! Beautiful work, as ever Nicky. Thanks for keeping me on the list. We are scheduled to lead a trip to Sabah next summer – covid willing. If so, we will spend some time in Singapore and would love to reconnect with you.
We are safe and doing much better than the rest of the US. Our university tests over 6000 per day (we get tested twice per week). Linda is teaching spider biology on line. I am teaching insect biology with two in person afternoon field trip/labs to 30 students, all wearing masks and spaced 2 meters. So far, so good.
I hope you and your family are healthy and able to stay safe.
cheers,
cole
Nicky Bay
Great to hear from you Cole! Glad to hear that you and Linda are doing well.
Yes, it will be nice to catch up. Hopefully, we won’t be facing too much travel restrictions by then.
Just in case you have not seen it, I have the tiger beetle checklist here:
https://www.nickybay.com/cicindelinae-checklist-tiger-beetles/
Dustin Rhoades
You are the real deal, man!