Venomous spiders have earned a reputation as one of the deadliest and most dangerous creatures on planet Earth. The stars of countless nightmares and horror movies, these eight-legged predators are renowned for subduing and paralysing their prey before devouring it, often while its still alive.
Although most species of spiders possess venom glands, they dont typically pose a threat to humans. There are, however, some species of spiders that pack a punch big enough to give us cause for concern – some with enough to cause pain and irritation similar to that of a bee or wasp sting, but some much worse.
Regardless, its recommended to seek medical advice and treatment if you are unfortunate enough to be bitten.
Tarantulas are often feared for their large hairy bodies and long fangs. But while all tarantulas do possess venom most species are relatively harmless to humans. Only certain types pack enough punch to cause serious problems from a bite.
In this guide we’ll countdown the 13 most venomous tarantula species and explain what makes their venom so potent compared to other spiders.
How Tarantula Venom Works
All tarantulas have venom they use to kill prey and defend themselves The venom is produced in glands in the chelicerae (fangs) and injected through the hollow tips of the fangs when the tarantula bites
Tarantula venom contains a complex cocktail of enzymes, neurotoxins, and other compounds that work together to paralyze and digest the prey. The venom attacks the nervous system and causes paralysis, muscle spasms, and immense pain.
While every tarantula has venom, certain species evolved extra strong and medically significant venom. These tarantulas pose the biggest threat if they were to bite a human.
Old World vs New World Tarantulas
There are over 900 described tarantula species divided into New World (Americas) and Old World (Europe, Asia, Africa).
Old World tarantulas tend to have more potent venom than New World species. They evolved stronger venom as their main line of defense since they lack urticating hairs (the itchy defense hairs New World tarantulas kick off).
Some reasons Old World tarantulas have stronger venom:
- No urticating hairs, so venom is the primary defense
- More aggressive when threatened
- Longer evolutionary time to perfect venom
New World tarantulas generally have milder venom that only causes localized pain and discomfort. This is because their venom is suited for smaller prey rather than taking down large vertebrates like humans. Plus they have urticating hairs as backup defense.
So Old World species pose the biggest threat in terms of serious envenomations.
The 13 Most Venomous Tarantula Species
After comparing available research and experts opinions, these 13 tarantulas emerge as the most venomous in terms of potential medical significance to humans:
13. Usambar Orange Baboon Tarantula
Scientific Name: Pterinochilus murinus
Venom Level: Moderate
Found in Kenya and Tanzania, this baboon tarantula is quick to bite. Its venom can cause severe pain, muscle cramps, and nausea lasting up to 5 days.
12. Singapore Blue Tarantula
Scientific Name: Lampropelma nigerrimum
Venom Level: Moderate
Native to Malaysia and Indonesia, this flashy blue spider has venom that causes intense local pain, swelling, and muscle spasms.
11. Brazilian Giant Whiteknee Tarantula
Scientific Name: Acanthoscurria geniculata
Venom Level: Moderate
One of the largest tarantulas in the world with a legspan up to 11 inches. It has moderate venom that causes localized pain.
10. Chaco Golden Knee Tarantula
Scientific Name: Grammostola pulchripes
Venom Level: Mild to moderate
A popular pet tarantula, it has milder venom but large fangs that can cause mechanical damage. Bites cause burning pain.
9. King Baboon Tarantula
Scientific Name: Pelinobius muticus
Venom Level: High
From East Africa, this tarantula has potent venom that can hospitalize humans. Bite symptoms include severe pain, muscle cramps, vomiting, and fever.
8. Cobalt Blue Tarantula
Scientific Name: Haplopelma lividum
Venom Level: High
With striking blue legs, this Asian tarantula packs a painful bite that causes intense muscle cramps and spasms around the bite area.
7. Indian Ornamental Tarantula
Scientific Name: Poecilotheria regalis
Venom Level: Extremely high
Considered one of the most dangerous tarantulas, its venom causes excruciating muscle cramps and spasms that can last for days.
6. Singapore Blue Tarantula
Scientific Name: Lampropelma violaceopes
Venom Level: Extremely high
From southeast Asia, this metallic blue spider has seriously potent venom that puts people in the hospital. Muscle spasms and pain can last weeks.
5. Chinese Fawn Tarantula
Scientific Name: Chilobrachys guangxiensis
Venom Level: Extremely high
Found in China and Thailand, this fast-moving tarantula has very toxic venom that causes intense pain, cramping, vomiting, and sweating.
4. Featherleg Baboon Tarantula
Scientific Name: Stromatopelma calceata
Venom Level: Extremely high
From Africa, this species has massive fangs and super toxic venom. Bites can be lethal for small children.
3. Six-eyed Sand Spider
Scientific Name: Sicarius hahni
Venom Level: Extremely high
Native to southern Africa, this venom can rot human flesh due to potent tissue-destroying enzymes.
2. Sydney Funnel-web Spider
Scientific Name: Atrax robustus
Venom Level: Extremely high
Aggressive and fast-moving, this Australian spider has the most potent venom of any tarantula or spider, capable of killing humans in 15 minutes without antivenom.
1. Fringed Ornamental Tarantula
Scientific Name: Poecilotheria ornata
Venom Level: Extremely high
Considered by most experts as the most venomous tarantula, its bite causes excruciating pain that can last 4+ weeks. Can be lethal to children.
- Fringed Ornamental Tarantula
- Sydney Funnel-web Spider
- Six-eyed Sand Spider
- Featherleg Baboon Tarantula
- Chinese Fawn Tarantula
All five of these spiders have venom capable of serious medical consequences and pose the biggest threat to humans if they were to bite. They should be handled with extreme caution by experts only.
Now let’s go over some key facts about tarantula bites and venom…
What Happens if You Get Bit by a Tarantula?
Most tarantula bites are not medically significant. Mild swelling, redness, and burning pain around the bite site are common. The intense pain usually fades within 5 hours.
However, bites from highly venomous species can cause:
- Severe stabbing or burning pain
- Profuse sweating and nausea
- Muscle spasms, cramps, tremors
- Increased heart rate, breathing issues
- Swelling taking over an entire limb
Without treatment, symptoms may persist for 1-4 weeks with these species! Fortunately, no healthy adult has ever died from a tarantula bite. Children, elderly, or infirm may be at higher risk.
Seeking prompt medical treatment is recommended if bitten by a highly venomous tarantula to relieve symptoms and avoid complications.
Why Are Some Tarantulas So Venomous?
Certain tarantulas evolved extremely toxic venom for taking down larger prey and protecting themselves from predators.
Baboon tarantulas in Africa hunt large insects, lizards, mice, and even birds. Funnel-web spiders in Australia eat small vertebrates like frogs and lizards. Their extra strong venom helps them rapidly paralyze sizable prey.
The neurotoxins and tissue-destroying compounds in their venom also work well against mammalian predators with similar nerve biology, anatomy, and circulatory systems to humans. So their venom transferred to being medically significant for people too.
Can You Die from a Tarantula Bite?
There are no confirmed deaths solely attributable to a tarantula bite.
However, in rare cases, bites from high venom species like the Fringed Ornamental or Sydney Funnel-web Spider could potentially be fatal without medical treatment.
People most at risk include:
- Young children
- The elderly
- Those with allergies or other sensitivities
Healthy adults who receive prompt medical care almost never experience life-threatening effects from even the most venomous tarantula bites.
Tips for Safely Keeping Venomous Tarantulas
For those who keep hot tarantulas as pets, extreme caution is recommended. Here are some tips for safe handling:
- Never handle highly venomous species
- Use extra long tongs for tank maintenance
- Keep secure, tight-fitting lids on enclosures
- Have an emergency response plan in case of an escape or bite
- Ask an experienced keeper or vet for advice on your specific species
With proper care and respect for these beautiful but dangerous spiders, even novices can safely maintain a venomous tarantula collection. Just be sure to do your homework first!
So while tarantulas may look big and scary, very few pose a serious health risk to humans. By understanding which species have medically significant venom and taking proper precautions, we can safely appreciate these eight-legged wonders of nature.
8 – Brown widow spider
Unlike a lot of native Australian spiders that have made our list, the brown widow can be found all over the world. They can be easily identified by their stripey legs and the vivid markings on their abdomens.
The brown widow cant deliver as much venom as their more dangerous relative, the black widow. This is due to their bites containing fewer toxins. However, their venom can still occasionally cause some nasty side effects in humans such as pain at the bite site and the onset of vomiting.
5 – Redback spider
Redback spiders are considered as being dangerous to humans – a situation complicated by the fact that they like to hang out inside our homes.
When the redback first finds its prey, it covers it in a sticky substance to immobilise it. Then, in a scene reminiscent of the Lord of the Rings, it wraps its prey in silk, injects it with venom via multiple bites and hauls it off to its lair. Eventually, the unfortunate victim ends ups having their insides liquified and sucked out.
As you can imagine, a bite from one of these spiders could prove quite painful to a human, and can also result in headaches and nausea.
Top 10 Most DANGEROUS Tarantulas!
FAQ
What tarantulas are poisonous to humans?
All tarantulas are deadly to the insects and small animals upon which they prey. It is a myth that tarantulas are deadly to humans. Although tarantulas can act aggressively and may bite or threaten someone, even the notoriously bad-tempered Cobalt Blue Tarantula is not usually deadly to people.
What is the most aggressive tarantula species?
OBTs (Orange baboon Tarantula, Pterinochilus murinus, or Orange Bitey Things) are the standard go-to for aggressive Ts.
Why are old world tarantulas more venomous?
OWs typically come from areas with a lot more threats then NWs. Take OBTs for example, they come from africa where most creatures within a 100 mile radius are gonna try and eat you. So they have to be extra defensive, fast and have potent venom to fight off predators.