Phoneutria, commonly known as Brazilian wandering spiders, armed spiders ("aranhas-armadeiras", as they are known in
Portuguese), or banana spiders (not to be confused with the relatively harmless species of the genus
Nephila), are a
genus of defensive and
highly venomous spiders found in tropical
South and
Central America. These spiders are members of the
Ctenidae family of wandering spiders.
The Brazilian wandering spiders appeared in
Guinness World Records 2012 as
the world's most venomous spider.
Wandering spiders are so-called because they wander the jungle floor at night, rather than residing in a lair or maintaining a web. During the day they hide inside
termite mounds, under fallen logs and rocks,
and in banana plants and
bromeliads. P. nigriventer is known to hide in dark and moist places in or near human dwellings.
and in banana plants
in banana plants
IN BANANA PLANTS