The Brazilian Wandering Spider
The Brazilian Wandering Spider, also known as the Banana Spider, is one of the most venomous spiders in the world! With a leg span of up to 5 inches, this species can be easily recognized by its shiny, hairy body that ranges in color from brown to black. Unlike most spiders who build webs, the Brazilian Wandering Spider likes to explore its environment on foot, hence its name. Watch out! These guys don’t play around - they are fast, ferocious, and highly defensive!

Brazilian Wandering Spider | |
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Size | Up to 5 inches (12.7 cm) |
Weight | Up to 0.3 ounces (8.5 g) |
Speed | Speed: 1.5 mph (2.4 km/hr) |
Key Strength | Venomous bite |
Biggest Weakness | Vulnerable to predators |
Scientific Name | Phoneutria nigriventer |
Family | Ctenidae |
Habitat | Homes and gardens |
Geography | South and Central America |
Diet | Insects, small animals, and other spiders |
Lifespan | 1 year - 4 years |

The Brazilian Wandering Spider
The Brazilian Wandering Spider, also known as the Banana Spider, is one of the most venomous spiders in the world! With a leg span of up to 5 inches, this species can be easily recognized by its shiny, hairy body that ranges in color from brown to black. Unlike most spiders who build webs, the Brazilian Wandering Spider likes to explore its environment on foot, hence its name. Watch out! These guys don’t play around - they are fast, ferocious, and highly defensive!
Fun Fact: Did you know? The Brazilian Wandering Spider gets its alternate name, the Banana Spider, because it loves to hide in banana plants and sometimes accidentally gets transported to grocery stores in banana deliveries - talk about a surprise in your shopping cart!
Brazilian Wandering Spider | |
---|---|
Size | Up to 5 inches (12.7 cm) |
Weight | Up to 0.3 ounces (8.5 g) |
Speed | Speed: 1.5 mph (2.4 km/hr) |
Key Strength | Venomous bite |
Biggest Weakness | Vulnerable to predators |
Scientific Name | Phoneutria nigriventer |
Family | Ctenidae |
Habitat | Homes and gardens |
Geography | South and Central America |
Diet | Insects, small animals, and other spiders |
Lifespan | 1 year - 4 years |
Brazilian Wandering Spider Matchups
We use AI to simulate matchups between the Brazilian Wandering Spider and other animals. Our simulation considers size, strength, and natural predatory behaviors to determine the most likely outcome.
Fun Fact: The venom of the Brazilian Wandering Spider is strong enough to immobilize or kill small prey, but did you know it has an unexpected side effect in humans? It can cause a severe case of goosebumps!
Fun Fact: These adventurous spiders prefer to spend their time on the move rather than building webs, and they are so good at hide and seek that they can even flip upside-down and blend in with the brown leaves and forest floor to hide from predators.