Editing Huntsman spider (section)

==Description==
Sparassids are eight-eyed [[spider]]s. The eyes appear in two largely forward-facing rows of four on the [[anatomical terms of location#Anterior and posterior|anterior aspect]] of the [[cephalothorax|prosoma]]. Many species grow very large&nbsp;– in [[Laos]], male [[giant huntsman spider]]s (''Heteropoda maxima'') attain a legspan of {{convert|25–30|cm}}. People unfamiliar with spider taxonomy commonly confuse large species with [[tarantula]]s, but huntsman spiders can generally be identified by their legs, which, rather than being jointed vertically relative to the body, are twisted in such a way that in some attitudes the legs extend forward in a [[crab]]-like fashion.<ref>{{cite web |title=Huntsman Spiders |url=https://australian.museum/learn/animals/spiders/huntsman-spiders/ |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=The Australian Museum }}</ref> It is also commonly confused for a [[Brown recluse spider|brown recluse]] spider, due to their shared coloring. However, brown recluse venom is significantly dangerous to humans, while that of the huntsman spider is less so.<ref>{{Cite web |title=details |url=http://www.tsusinvasives.org/home/database/heteropoda-venatoria |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=www.tsusinvasives.org}}</ref> 

On their upper surfaces the main colours of huntsman spiders are inconspicuous shades of brown or grey, but many species have undersides more or less [[Aposematism|aposematically]] marked in black-and-white.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/spiders/giant_crab_spider.htm | title=Huntsman spider - Heteropoda venatoria (Linnaeus) }}</ref> Their legs bear fairly prominent spines, but the rest of their bodies are smoothly furry. They tend to live under rocks, bark and similar shelters, but human encounters are common in sheds, garages and other infrequently-disturbed places. The banded huntsman (''Holconia'') is large, grey to brown with striped bands on its legs. The badge huntsman (''[[Neosparassus]]'') is larger still, brown and hairy. The tropical or brown huntsman (''[[Heteropoda]]'') is also large and hairy, with mottled brown, white and black markings. The eyesight of these spiders is not as good as that of the ''Salticidae'' ([[jumping spider]]s). Nevertheless, their vision is quite sufficient to detect approaching humans or other large animals from some distance.

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File:Sparassidae Palystes superciliosus Male Ventral Aspect 0110s.jpg|''[[Palystes superciliosus]]'', ventral aspect, showing [[aposematic]] coloration, plus typically masculine [[Wiktionary:gracile|gracile]] build and [[Wiktionary:clavate|clavate]] [[pedipalp]]s armed with mating spurs
File:Huntsman spider with meal.jpg|A huntsman spider consuming a small [[beetle]]
File:Huntsman Spider feeding Grasshopper.jpg|A female ''[[Heteropoda venatoria]]'' consuming a [[Tettigoniidae|katydid]]
File:Huntsman spider on log.jpg|Adult social huntsman ''[[Delena cancerides]]'' on the underside of a log in Victoria, Australia
File:Olios argelasius MHNT.jpg|''[[Olios argelasius]]''  
File:Huntsman spider (Sparassidae sp.) Ankasa.jpg|Unidentified species in Ghana
</gallery>