Jabruson / King baboon spider (Citharischius crawshayi) with mouse prey. Tsavo NP, Kenya, East Africa

Jabruson / King baboon spider in defensive posture, Tsavo NP, Kenya

Jabruson / African baboon spider {Theraphosidae / Tarantula family) Odzala NP, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Jabruson / Female King baboon spider feeds on mouse kill, Tsavo NP Kenya

Jabruson / King baboon spider with dead mouse, Kenya, Africa

Gerry Ellis / Mexican Red-knee Tarantula (Brachypelma smithi), Mexico

Mark Moffett / Peruvian Pinktoe Tarantula (Avicularia urticans) walking on water after being flooded from its nest, Amazonian ecosystem, Peru

Mark Moffett / Peruvian Pinktoe Tarantula (Avicularia urticans) eating tree frog, Amazon, Peru

Mark Moffett / Ecuadorian Brown Velvet Tarantula (Megaphobema velvetosoma) shedding its skin (cuticle), Ecuador

Mark Moffett / Ecuadorian Brown Velvet Tarantula (Megaphobema velvetosoma) shedding its skin (cuticle), Ecuador

Piotr Naskrecki / Tarantula (Theraphosidae) in rainforest, Suriname

Michael D. Kern / Tarantula (Harpactirella lightfooti), captive from South Africa

Michael D. Kern / Baboon spider (Augacephalus sp.) captive from Mozambique

Tony Phelps / Female Baboon spider (Harpactira sp) in silken burrow, DeHoop Nature Reserve, Western Cape, South Africa, February

Pete Oxford / Tarantula (Theraphosidae), newly discovered species, Yasuni National Park, Amazon, Ecuador

Tony Phelps / Baboon Spider (Harpactira sp) adult female with freshly moulted skin, DeHoop NR, Western Cape, South Africa, December

Tony Phelps / Baboon Sider (Harpactira sp) adult female, freshly moulted, DeHoop NR, Western Cape, South Africa, December

Tony Phelps / Baboon Spider (Harpactira sp) adult female with freshly moulted skin, DeHoop NR, Western Cape, South Africa, December

Piotr Naskrecki / Goliath Bird-eating Spider (Theraphosa blondi), Sipaliwini, Surinam

Piotr Naskrecki / Goliath Bird-eating Spider (Theraphosa blondi) in rainforest, Sipaliwini, Surinam

ZSSD / Tarantula (Pterinochilus sp), native to Africa

James Christensen / Tarantula (Pamphobeteus sp) male, Mindo, western slope of Andes, Ecuador

James Christensen / Tarantula (Theraphosidae) carcass with the parasitic fly larvae that killed it, Mindo, western slope of Andes, Ecuador

Piotr Naskrecki / Goliath Bird-eating Spider (Theraphosa blondi) in leaf litter, Guyana

Piotr Naskrecki / Goliath Bird-eating Spider (Theraphosa blondi), Surinam

Tony Phelps / Baboon Spider (Harpactirella sp,) in web. De Hoop Western Cape, South Africa, January.

Tony Phelps / Baboon Spider (Harpactirella sp.). De Hoop Nature Reserve, Western Cape, South Africa, January.

Pete Oxford / Tarantula (Aphonopelma sp), Napo River, Yasuni National Park, Amazon, Ecuador

Pete Oxford / Goliath Bird-eating Spider (Theraphosa blondi), Rewa River, Guyana

Pete Oxford / Goliath Bird-eating Spider (Theraphosa blondi), Rewa River, Guyana

Pete Oxford / Goliath Bird-eating Spider (Theraphosa blondi) on tree trunk, Rewa River, Guyana

Pete Oxford / Goliath Bird-eating Spider (Theraphosa blondi) on tree trunk, Rewa River, Guyana

Murray Cooper / Tarantula (Theraphosidae) emerging from nest cavity, Amazon, Ecuador

Murray Cooper / Tarantula (Theraphosidae) in leaf litter on forest floor, Amazon, Ecuador

Konrad Wothe / Tarantula (Theraphosidae) near burrow, Tambopata River, Tambopata National Reserve, Peru

Konrad Wothe / Pinktoe Tarantula (Avicularia avicularia) in ground web, Tambopata River, Tambopata National Reserve, Peru

Jasper Doest / Texas Brown Tarantula (Aphonopelma hentzi) silhouetted against sunset, George West, Texas

Jasper Doest / Texas Brown Tarantula (Aphonopelma hentzi) on a dead tree trunk, George West, Texas

Piotr Naskrecki / Tarantula (Theraphosidae) on leaf litter, Brownsberg Reserve, Surinam

Piotr Naskrecki / Tarantula (Theraphosidae) camouflaged on leaf litter, Brownsberg Reserve, Surinam

Piotr Naskrecki / Tarantula (Theraphosidae) amid leaf litter, Mamang River Forest Reserve, Ghana

Thomas Marent / Tarantula (Avicularia sp) on log, Colombia

Thomas Marent / Tarantula (Avicularia sp) in defensive posture, Colombia

Thomas Marent / Tarantula (Avicularia sp) abdomen, Allpahuayo Mishana National Reserve, Peru

Thomas Marent / Tarantula (Avicularia sp), Allpahuayo Mishana National Reserve, Peru

Jasper Doest / Texas Brown Tarantula (Aphonopelma hentzi) near burrow, George West, Texas

Jasper Doest / Texas Brown Tarantula (Aphonopelma hentzi) on tree trunk, George West, Texas

Jasper Doest / Texas Brown Tarantula (Aphonopelma hentzi), George West, Texas

James Christensen / Tarantula (Theraphosidae) emerging from tree hole, western slope of the Andes Cloud Forest, Mindo, Ecuador

James Christensen / Tarantula (Theraphosidae) in threat posture, Panama

Mark Moffett / Tarantula (Theraphosidae) being stung by Tarantula Hawk (Pepsis sp), California

Mark Moffett / Tarantula (Theraphosidae) moving away from Tarantula Hawk (Pepsis sp) which is about to thrust stinger into and stun the spider, California

Mark Moffett / Tarantula (Theraphosidae) is stunned and taken to it's own burrow by a Tarantula Hawk (Pepsis sp), California

Mark Moffett / Tarantula (Theraphosidae) is stunned and taken to it's own burrow by a Tarantula Hawk (Pepsis sp), California

Mark Moffett / Tarantula Hawk (Pepsis sp) has laid a small white egg on a stunned Tarantula (Theraphosidae) and departed the burrow, California

Mark Moffett / Tarantula (Theraphosidae) is driven from it's burrow by a Tarantula Hawk (Pepis sp), California

Albert Lleal / Metallic White-toed Tarantula (Avicularia metallica), South America

Thomas Marent / Blue Fang Skeleton Tarantula (Ephebopus cyanognathus) in defensive posture, French Guiana

Thomas Marent / Columbian Lesser Black Tarantula (Xenesthis immanis) on log in flooded forest, Tambopata National Reserve, Peru

Michael D. Kern / King Baboon Spider {Citharischius crawshayi} legs raised in defence posture, captive, from Kenya

Michael D. Kern / King Baboon Spider {Citharischius crawshayi} captive, from Kenya

Mark Moffett / Tarantula (Avicularia sp) floating on Yarapa River, Peru

Thomas Marent / Tarantula (Theraphosidae) crawling on forest floor, Manu National Park, Peru

Thomas Marent / Tarantula (Theraphosidae) crawling on log, Manu National Park, Peru

Thomas Marent / Spider on web, La Selva, Costa Rica

Thomas Marent / Tarantula (Theraphosidae) crawling down log, Manu National Park, Peru

Thomas Marent / Tarantula (Theraphosidae) leg, showing fine hairs used as sense organs, Tambopata-Candamo Nature Reserve, Peru

Konrad Wothe / Mexican Red-knee Tarantula (Brachypelma smithi) held in hands, Costa Rica

Jabruson / King baboon spider {Citharischius crawshayi} female at burrow entrance, Tsavo East NP, Kenya

Jabruson / King baboon spider {Citharischius crawshayi} female with millipede prey, Tsavo East NP, Kenya

Jabruson / King baboon spider with mouse prey. (Citharischius crawshayi) Tsavo NP, Kenya

Jabruson / King baboon spider in defensive posture (Citharischius crawshayi) tarantula spider. Tsavo NP, Kenya

Tony Phelps / Cape orange baboon spider {Harpactira cafreriana} on web, DeHoop NR, Western Cape, South Africa

Tony Phelps / Cape orange baboon spider {Harpactira cafreriana} on web, DeHoop NR, Western Cape, South Africa

Mark Moffett / Tarantula (Theraphosidae) with prey, Rio Momon, Peru

Piotr Naskrecki / Tarantula (Psalmopoeus reduncus) in rainforest habitat, Costa Rica

Tony Phelps / Cape orange baboon spider {Harpactira cafreriana} freshly moulted next to silken burrow, DeHoop Nature Reserve, Western Cape, South Africa. Note old skin remnants at bottom of picture.

Tony Phelps / King baboon spider in web / nest on ground{Citharischius crawshayi} South Africa

Kim Taylor / King baboon spider portrait {Citharischius crawshayi} captive, occurs Africa.

Kim Taylor / King baboon spider {Citharischius crawshayi} captive, occurs Africa.

Jabruson / King baboon spider (Citharischius crawshayi) with mouse prey. Tasavo NP, Kenya, East Africa

Jabruson / King baboon spider with mouse prey, Tsavo NP, Kenya

Jabruson / King baboon spider spinning web over entrance to burrow, Tsavo NP, Africa.

Jabruson / King baboon spider spinning web over entrance to burrow, Tsavo NP, Kenya, Africa.

Mark Moffett / Feather Leg Baboon Tarantula (Stromatopelma griseipes) tarsal pad with visible claws, Ivory Coast, Gulf of Guinea, West Africa

Heidi & Hans-Juergen Koch / Greenbottle Blue Tarantula (Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens) in defensive posture at entrance to nest, native to Venezuela

Mark Moffett / Tarantula (Theraphosidae) killed by a fungal disease, Bolivar State, Venezuela

Gerry Ellis / Mexican Red-knee Tarantula (Brachypelma smithi) portrait, top view, Mexico and Central America

Mark Moffett / Mark Moffett, photographer portrait, holding a Tarantula (Theraposidae) while on assignment

Michael & Patricia Fogden / Red-kneed Tarantula (Euathlus mesomelas) close-up in vegetation, cloud forest, Costa Rica

Claus Meyer / Tarantula (Theraphosidae), portrait on rainforest floor, Amazon ecosystem, Brazil

Claus Meyer / Tarantula (Theraphosidae) crossing forest floor, Amazon, Brazil

Gerry Ellis / Mexican Red-knee Tarantula (Brachypelma smithi) portrait, Mexico

Claus Meyer / Tarantula (Theraphosidae), eating a moth it has captured, Amazon ecosystem, Brazil

Claus Meyer / Pinktoe Tarantula (Avicularia avicularia) limbs and abdomen are covered with protective stinging hairs, Amazon, Brazil

Heidi & Hans-Juergen Koch / Greenbottle Blue Tarantula (Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens) portrait, native to Venezuela