Meet The Goliath Birdeater, The Biggest Spider In The World By Weight

When preparing to attack prey or fend off forest predators like the coati, the Goliath birdeater rises on its hind legs to make itself appear even bigger, showing off its long limbs and inch-long fangs.

As part of this intimidation tactic, the Goliath tarantula rubs its hairy legs together — a common technique called stridulation that is used by other spiders, snakes, and insects — to create a hissing noise that can be heard from 15 feet away.

This leg-rubbing also releases the sharp hairs which stick and cause discomfort when they come into contact with skin, creating the perfect diversion for the giant tarantula to escape an imminent threat.