Very Large Florida Spider

[jwlipsey]

Hi there. I live the the Tampa Bay area, on the gulf coast of Florida. The creature shown in the attached photos gave me quite a start when it raced toward me on the bathroom floor a couple of weeks ago, then darted behind the toilet upon which I happened to be seated. It was early AM, and I was still groggy from sleep. Then again one evening last week, I stumbled across another one just like it (albeit much 'fatter') in the laundry bin in the garage. It likewise moved toward me at first, before scurrying for cover.

I'm not usually frightened by spiders. But their sheer size, coupled with their apparently aggressive behavior, is admittedly unnerving. From the info on this website, I'm finding only what it ISN'T, not what it IS. Any idea what kind of spider this is?

Thanks in advance.

[Eric]

Hi! Nice images of a male "huntsman spider," Heteropoda venatoria. This is a common spider in Florida, valued by hotels, motels, and resorts as mobile pest control for cockroaches and other insects. Despite their size, they are *not* considered by scientists to be dangerously venomous to people or pets. Hope this helps!

Eric