Tarantulas are among the largest spiders in the world and perhaps the most feared.
Emergency physicians are more likely to encounter patients who have had tarantula contact as the popularity of tarantulas as pets continues to increase. Tarantulas belong to the suborder Orthognatha and the family Theraphosidae. Females can live as long as 35 years, while the male life span is generally 5-7 years. They have poor eyesight and sense their prey through vibrations. The largest species, Theraphosa blondi , which is found in South America, can have fangs 1 inch long and a leg span up to 12 inches.