Heteropoda lunula Tropical Spider Arachnida Araneae Araneida Sparassidae

Heteropoda lunula body cm 1.5-2.5 Tropical Spider Arachnida Araneae Araneida Sparassidae.
The approximate measurement with legs extended (legspan) could reach about 10 cm.
Family: Sparassidae.
Common name: Hunter Spider.

Sparassidae Bertkau, 1872 is a family of spiders belonging to the infraorder Araneomorphae, order Araneae (Araneida).
The name derives from the Greek sparàsso meaning "to tear", "to rend" or "to be seized by convulsions", due to the strong movements and wriggling that these spiders perform both when they are grabbed and as a courtship ritual.
Also known as hunter spiders, they are quite large: the largest male specimens of Heteropoda maxima reach a body length of 30 cm with outstretched legs. Despite their size, they bite humans only if provoked and the bite generally heals after a couple of days of swelling and redness. Sometimes confused with tarantulas in the Australian territory where the two families coexist, Sparassidae are distinguished by having their front legs stretched forward like crabs.
The color varies from brown to gray, but also red and green. Their legs are covered with rather prominent spines, but the rest of the body is quite smooth. The worst bites, which cause nausea and vomiting as well as significant swelling, are inflicted by members of the genus Neosparassus.
They do not build webs, but hunt for food, such as insects and other invertebrates. They are capable of walking extremely fast, and climbing walls and ceilings. When trying to grab them, they try to cling or wriggle convulsively (hence the name) and, without warning, bite, especially if they are females carrying an egg sac.
They are spiders that mainly live in woods, forests and piles of wood, but they do not disdain warehouses and rarely frequented homes. Hiding among the piles of wood that ships carry around the world has contributed greatly to their spread. In case of rain, it is not uncommon to see them enter homes. They have been found in Italy.