25 Most Bizarre Spiders

Posted by , Updated on January 9, 2024

Spiders by nature creep most people out. In fact, about 30% of Americans are afraid of spiders. It’s no wonder why. They’ve got multiple big eyes, many long legs, and scurry about in dark places. But those features don’t even begin to describe most spiders.

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Many are just down-right bizarre. Evolution has had a large part to play in how these creatures have developed. To survive, they’ve created some unique and weird techniques, including camouflage and efficient hunting abilities. Curious to find out what is out there? Here are 25 Most Bizarre Spiders.

25

Twig Spider

twig spiderSource: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/arachnids/10-amazing-spiders6.htm

This genius spider has incredible camouflage that makes it look like a twig. Even if you were around one in its native India, you likely wouldn’t even see it. It also spins a Y shaped web rather than the typical kind.

24

Spiny Orb Weaver

spiny orb weaverSource: https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/beneficials/beneficial-23_spiny_orb_weaver_spider.htm

Though frightening, this little spotted guy isn’t dangerous to humans. However, it might build webs in annoying places. This is a unique spider with very recognizable qualities and is usually around the Houston area.

23

Maratus Volans

peacock spiderSource: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2263955/Peacock-spiders-Maratus-volans--Rare-photos-stunning-tiny-peacock-spiders-south-east-Australia.html

Also called the Peacock Spider, these brightly colored arachnids are very tiny, capable of sitting perfectly on your fingernail. Male Peacock Spiders do a mating dance to attract the females. While 20 known species exist, only 8 have been formally identified.

22

Myrmarachne Plataleoides

jumping spiderSource: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/nelson-these-amazing-spiders-look-remarkably-like-ants-slide-show/

These sneaky spiders, also known as the Red Weaver Ant Mimicking Spider, look just like an ant to confuse their prey. Even in the animal kingdom, you can trust no one.

21

Two-Tailed Spider

two tailed spiderSource: http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_spiders/TwoTailedSpider1.htm

The two-tailed spider doesn’t spin a web but lies in wait on a tree or a rock. It sits perfectly still until prey comes along; when it’s in range, it swiftly attacks. If something larger than it approaches, it’ll scurry away faster than you can blink.

20

Argyroneta Aquatica

Argyroneta_Aquatica_Weibchen2Source: https://www.nature.com/news/2011/110609/full/news.2011.357.html

This spider is very bizarre. It creates a web to form a water bubble and uses it as gills to breathe underwater. Using its newly built gills, it’ll hunt underwater. And, yes, it’ll kill tiny fish. Not even fish are safe from spiders.

19

Australian Funnel-Web Spider

funnel web spiderSource: http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/wildlife/2017/02/worlds-deadliest-spider-the-sydney-funnel-web

This anti-social spider usually stays away from people, but people come in contact with them when the males come out during the mating season to find a female. Unfortunately, that could prove deadly. This spider has the capacity to kill a human in 15 minutes due to its venom.

18

Long Horned Orb Weaver

long horned orb weaverSource: https://www.wired.com/2013/07/weirdest-spiders-ever/

Of the many weird spiders out there, this one usually takes the cake. First, it looks nothing like a spider and second, it has incredibly longhorns. Because they look so frightening, it’s likely you’d soil yourself if you saw one in the flesh.

17

Assassin Spider

assassin spiderSource: https://www.wired.com/2014/12/absurd-creature-of-the-week-assassin-spider/

Most spiders are assassins in their own way, hiding and waiting patiently until the right moment. But the Assassin Spider truly earns its name. Uniquely, this spider hunts other spiders and is really good at it with huge jaws and venom that decimate its opponents. So, if you were a spider, this would be your worst nightmare.

16

Tree Stump Orb Weaver

tree stump orb weaverSource: https://www.wired.com/2013/07/weirdest-spiders-ever/

If you were in the woods, you might not even know this spider was watching your every move. Does that creep you out? Well, it should. Evolving over millions of years, this spider has gained the ability to look just like a tree, hence the name.

15

Heavy Jumping Spider

jumping spiderSource: https://www.spidersworlds.com/jumping-spider/

No one wants to know a spider can jump. They can already run fast, hide, and build intricate webs. But, jumping? No, thank you. Well, unfortunately, the Heavy Jumping Spider does exactly what no one wants. It can leap up to 50 times its size.

14

Black Armored Trapdoor Spider

trapdoor spiderSource: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nickadel/16948095536

One kind of many trapdoor spiders, this beast builds a hideout with leaves, grass, brush, and webs to create an elaborate trap for his prey. When they walk by, he appears like a demon, snatching them into his den.

13

Wrap-Around Spider

wrap around spiderSource: http://boredomtherapy.com/wrap-around-spider-no-thanks/

If it comes from Australia, it’s likely bizarre. That rule of thumb goes double for the Wrap-Around Spider. To camouflage itself from the prey, it’ll literally wrap around a twig and hide, looking incredibly flat. Fortunately, it’s not really dangerous to humans, but it’ll probably give you the creeps thinking about it.

12

Argyrodes Colubrinus

whip tail spiderSource: http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_weavers/Whipspider.htm

More commonly known as the Whip Spider, this very weird looking spider has a long tail that resembles a whip, hence its name, and can camouflage into its surroundings since it also looks like a stick.

11

Happy Face Spider

happy face spiderSource: https://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/happyface_02

Found on the islands of Hawaii, this spider looks like it has a grinning face on its abdomen. There are many variations of this kind of spider, and some don’t have a smiling face at all but a frown.

10

Wide-Jawed Viciria

Viciria.praemandibularis.maleSource: http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/guidebooks/spiders/text/Viciria_praemandibularis.htm

This spider is notable mostly for its unique body shape but also its massive jaws. Found in Singapore and Indonesia, along with huge mandibles, it also is part of the jumping spider family.

9

Scorpion-Tailed Spider

Arachnura_higginsiSource: http://www.arachne.org.au/01_cms/details.asp?ID=2112

Now we’re getting into the truly weird stuff. Not surprisingly, this spider is found in Australia and Tasmania and has a very long tail. Its body shape is the only of its kind. No other spider looks like it.

8

Ladybird Mimic

ladybird mimicSource: http://www.cracked.com/quick-fixes/6-terrifying-spiders-that-will-haunt-your-dreams/

The Ladybird Mimic Spider has a body that looks just like a ladybug. Looking harmless is exactly what it wants. Prey will get near it and before it knows what will happen, the prey will be within its grasp.

7

Huntsman

huntsmanSource: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/giant-huntsman-spider-couple-home-trapped-aragog-queensland-poisonous-french-window-bite-a7863431.html

While most Huntsman spiders avoid humans, in rare cases they’ll appear and won’t leave. Not only are they gargantuan but also rather venomous. Their bite won’t kill a human but would hurt and cause swelling. Of course, they’re native to Australia.

6

Bird Dung Crab Spider

Phyrnarachne_spSource: https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn28124-zoologger-a-spider-that-looks-and-smells-like-bird-droppings/

This spider literally tries to look like a big poop. On top of that, it even has the ability to make itself smell bad, too. This two-fold camouflage detracts predators like birds while simultaneously attracting its own prey, like flies.

5

Mirror Spider

glass spiderSource: http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/wildlife/2017/12/australias-mirror-spiders

Another spider true to its name, the mirror spider has a shiny, mirror-like abdomen with multiple colors. It’s no surprise this one is also found in Australia. The cone-shaped abdomen also tends to look a snail’s shell.

4

Eight-Spotted Crab Spider

crab spiderSource: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/arachnids/10-amazing-spiders3.htm

Discovered in Singapore in 1924, this spider has a spotted body that looks like it was designed specifically for Halloween. They’re very reclusive, and few have been seen in the wild.

3

Ogre-Faced Spider

net throwing spiderSource: http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/ogre-faced-spider-throws-net-over-its-prey-gladiator/

Not only does this nasty spider have a hideously ugly face, but it also has the ability to spin a web to cast over its enemies. That’s right, it basically fishes for its prey. When it has its prey in a net, it bites down on it to paralyze it before consuming it completely.

2

Bat Eating Spiders

bat eating spiderSource: https://www.wired.com/2013/03/bat-eating-spiders/

Weaving webs large enough to catch its prey, these spiders go big or they go home. How big? Try bat-sized. Bats will fly into their webs, getting caught, and then the large spider will climb down and eat it.

1

Bagheera Kiplingi

Bagheera_kiplingi_(cropped)Source: https://www.livescience.com/5759-rare-vegetarian-spider-discovered.html

Most spiders like to eat insects except, of course, for those bat-eating spiders we just talked about. But now scientists have discovered a new form of spider that’s vegetarian called the Bagheera Kiplingi. They specifically eat acacia shrubs and must avoid the ants around it at all costs. (It’s pretty good at it, too!)   Want to learn about other types of spiders? Check out 25 Most Venomous Spiders That Actually Exist.



Photo: 1. Maximilian Paradiz, Bagheera kiplingi (cropped), CC BY 2.0 , 2. Twitter.com (Fair Use: Illustrative Purposes Only), 3. Frank Vassen from Brussels, Belgium, Net-throwing Spider, Ankarafantsika, Madagascar (4022343319), CC BY 2.0 , 4. Twitter.com (Fair Use: Illustrative Purposes Only), 5. Poyt448 Peter Woodard, Thwaitesia Spider on White Beech leaf, CC BY-SA 3.0 , 6. Palmfly, Phyrnarachne sp, CC BY-SA 3.0 , 7. Bryce McQuillan, Huntsman-spider-in-hand, CC BY-SA 2.0 , 8. Akio Tanikawa, Paraplectana.tsushimensis.female.-.tanikawa, CC BY-SA 2.5 , 9. WikipediaCommons.com (Public Domain), 10. WikipediaCommons.com (Public Domain), 11. Nate Yuen, Theridion grallator with happy face, CC BY-SA 3.0 , 12. WikipediaCommons.com (Public Domain), 13. Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE, Wrap-around Spider (Dolophones sp.) (8728157059), CC BY-SA 2.0 , 14. Greg Gilbert, Cork-lid trap door spider (Ctenizidae ummidia), CC BY 2.0, 15. Thomas Shahan, Female Jumping Spider - Phidippus regius - Florida, CC BY 2.0 , 16. Akio Tanikawa, Poltys.illepidus.female.1.-.tanikawa, CC BY-SA 2.5 , 17. John Tann from Sydney, Australia, Assassin bug lateral (16043502767), CC BY 2.0 , 18. Gido, Long Horned Orb Weaver, CC BY 2.0, 19. Doug Beckers from Macmasters Beach, Australia, LFAWY7 - Funnel Web Spider (4362056094), CC BY-SA 2.0 , 20. Norbert Schuller Baupi, Argyroneta Aquatica Weibchen2, CC BY-SA 3.0 , 21. Jayendra Chiplunkar, Two Tailed Spider (Hersilia savignyi), CC BY-SA 3.0 , 22. Challiyil Eswaramangalath Vipin, Myrmarachne plataleoides - jumping spider that mimics the Kerengga or weaver ant, CC BY-SA 2.0 , 23. KDS444, Male peacock spider2, CC BY-SA 3.0 , 24. Thomas Brown, Spiny Orb Weaver Spider (Gasteracantha frontata) (6725945281), CC BY 2.0 , 25. PxHere.com (Public Domain)