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Huntsman spider
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==Distribution and habitat== Members of the Sparassidae are native to tropical and warm temperate regions worldwide. A few species are native to colder climates, like the green huntsman spider (''[[Micrommata virescens]]'') which is native to [[Northern Europe|Northern]] and [[Central Europe]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Lissner|first1=Jørgen|title=Family: Sparassidae (Giant Crab Spiders)|url=http://www.jorgenlissner.dk/Sparassidae.aspx|website=The Spiders of Europe and Greenland|access-date=16 January 2018|archive-date=2020-02-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224053054/http://www.jorgenlissner.dk/Sparassidae.aspx|url-status=dead}}.</ref> Some tropical species like ''[[Heteropoda venatoria]]'' (Cane huntsman) and ''[[Delena cancerides]]'' (Social huntsman) have been accidentally introduced to many subtropical parts of the world, including [[New Zealand]] (which has no native sparassid species).<ref name="hirst1">{{cite journal|author=David Hirst, Julianne M. Waldock, Shaun J. Bennett, & Grace Hall|year=2006|title=The Huntsmen Spiders (Sparassidae) of New Zealand|journal=Australasian Arachnology|issue=75|pages=11–12|url=http://www.australasian-arachnology.org/download/newsletter/Australasian_Arachnology_75.pdf }}</ref> As adults, huntsman spiders do not build webs, but hunt and forage for food: their diet consists primarily of insects and other [[invertebrate]]s, and occasionally small skinks and geckos. They live in the crevices of tree bark, but will frequently wander into homes and vehicles. They are able to travel extremely quickly, often using a springing jump while running, and walk on walls and even on ceilings. They also tend to exhibit a "cling" reflex if picked up, making them difficult to shake off and much more likely to bite. The females are fierce defenders of their egg sacs and young. They will generally make a threat display if provoked, and if the warning is ignored they may attack and bite. The egg sacs differ fairly widely among the various genera. For example, in ''[[Heteropoda]]'' spp. egg sacs are carried underneath the female's body, while in other species like ''[[Palystes]]'' and ''[[Pseudomicrommata]]'' spp., females generally attach egg sacs to vegetation.<ref name="Filmer">{{cite book | last = Filmer | first = Martin | title = Southern African Spiders | publisher = BHB International / Struik | location = City | year = 1997 | isbn = 1-86825-188-8 }}</ref> <gallery widths="155px" heights="200px"> File:Huntsman Spider egg sac hatching 23 Jan 11.JPG|Australian sparassid egg sac hatching File:Palystes castaneus (Sparassidae egg purse IMG 2662.jpg|''[[Palystes castaneus]]'' egg purse </gallery>
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