Here are some facts about Tarantula:

• A female tarantula guarding her eggs. The eggs are surrounded by a shell, or cocoon, of silk. Tarantulas are the world's largest spiders. Their bodies reach up to 12 cm long. One species - the Goliath bird-eater – is recorded as having a record-breaking leg span of 28 cm.

• Tarantulas are hairy spiders found in the warm regions of the world, such as South America, southern parts of Asia and Africa.

• Although they look scary, they are not very harmful to humans, although their bite is venomous. These creatures have a two-part body, strong jaws to grasp their food and eight hairy legs. The body is protected with a hard exoskeleton.

• The hairs on a tarantula's body are sensitive to temperature, touch and smell. The barbed hairs on the abdomen come off easily.

• Tarantulas usually dig underground burrows but some live in burrows dug by rodents or other animals. Some species live on the ground or in trees.

• Tarantulas eat a variety of animals from insects and small reptiles to small birds and frogs.

• Their powerful jaws can be used to crush their prey.

• Active at night, tarantulas search for prey or wait outside their burrows for it to come near them. They kill it with their fangs. Then they inject a chemical to dissolve its flesh so that it becomes easy for them to eat.

• The male searches for a female by following the scent she produces. After performing the courtship dance, they mate. The female then lays her eggs in her burrow and weaves a cocoon to protect them.

• The lifespan of these spiders is longer than that of other spiders. Females can live for up to 20 years but males do not live as long.

• When cornered, tarantulas purr and raise their front legs in a defensive position.