Brazilian wandering spider

Description

Phoneutria nigriventer is a species of medically significant spider in the family Ctenidae, found in South America (Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina). Along with other members of the genus, they are often referred to as Brazilian wandering spiders. Its bite can cause a penile erection (priapism) that lasts for several hours.Phoneutria nigriventer is a large spider. Its maximum body length is around 5 cm and its legs can span 15 cm in larger individuals. Its body is covered in thick brown hair. They are nocturnal, and actively hunt at night, killing by ambush rather than using a web; during the day, they are found hidden under logs or crevices. When threatened, it raises its first two pairs of legs as a warning. it also occurs in banana trees, foliage, and urban regions, mainly inside residences. As with many spiders, such as the black widow, the female is larger than the male. The mating ritual takes place with the male dancing to get the female's attention, with the males even fighting each other. After mating, females may attack males. The female can store the sperm in a chamber separate from the eggs, until she is ready for fertilization. They may lay about 1,000 eggs, which are stored in a silk sac. One study claims that females with egg sacs are slightly more toxic than females without egg sacs.