Editing Huntsman spider (section)

==Size, venom, and aggression==
On average, a huntsman spider's leg-span can reach up to {{convert|15|cm|in|round=|abbr=on}}, while their bodies measure about {{convert|1.8|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} long.<ref name=livescience>{{cite web|url=https://www.livescience.com/65746-possum-eating-spider-australia.html|title=Huntsman Spider Devours Possum in Viral (and Terrifying) Photos|date=19 June 2019|publisher=livescience.com}}</ref> Like most spiders,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Foelix |first1=Rainer |last2=Erb |first2=Bruno |title=Mesothelae have venom glands |journal=Journal of Arachnology |volume=38 |issue=3 |year=2010 |pages=596–598 |issn=0161-8202 |doi=10.1636/B10-30.1 |s2cid=85870366 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/229262 }}</ref> Sparassidae use venom to immobilize prey.

There have been reports of members of various genera such as ''[[Palystes]]'',<ref>{{cite book |last1=D'Ewes |first1=Dudley |title=Wayward naturalist |chapter=Chapter 12 |publisher=Howard Timmins |location=Cape Town |year=1967 |oclc=457367 }}{{page needed|date=October 2016}}</ref> ''[[Neosparassus]]'', and several others inflicting severe bites on humans. The effects vary, including local swelling and pain, nausea, headache, vomiting, irregular pulse rate, and heart palpitations, indicating some systemic neurotoxin effects, especially when the bites were severe or repeated. However, the formal study of spider bites is fraught with complications, including unpredictable infections, [[dry bite]]s, shock, [[nocebo]] effects, and even bite misdiagnosis by medical professionals and specimen misidentification by the general public.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-10-16 |title=Spider bites: Identification and treatment |url=https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/311615 |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=www.medicalnewstoday.com |language=en}}</ref>

It is not always clear what provokes Sparassidae to attack and bite humans and animals, but it is known that female members of this family will aggressively defend their egg-sacs and young against perceived threats.<ref name="Isbister"/> Bites from sparassids usually do not require hospital treatment.<ref name="Huntsman bite first aid">{{cite news |last1=McCulloch |first1=Sharon |title=Huntsman Spider Bite – How dangerous are they? |url=https://www.firstaidpro.com.au/blog/huntsman-spider-bite-how-dangerous |access-date=7 February 2025 |work=First Aid Pro}}</ref>