While they may incite fear due to their impressive dimensions, these spiders play crucial roles in their ecosystems and have become subjects of significant scientific interest and study.

The Goliath birdeater doesn't just it birds. It also eats small rodents, frogs and insects. Milan Zygmunt / Shutterstock ...

The world's biggest spider can grow to the size of a dinner plate and even feed on birds. It is the theraphosa blondi, more ...

the largest spider alive today prefers a very different habitat. The Goliath birdeater lives in the northern part of South ...

The Goliath Birdeater, The Heaviest Spider Known ... its sheer mass makes it the heavyweight champion of the spider world. This big guy can weigh in at 6 ounces, which is a lot for a spider.