A scientist studying the Amazon rainforest was surprised and attacked by one of the world's largest spiders.

The goliath bird eating spider (Theraphosa blondi) is a menacingly huge and hairy tarantula indigenous to the Amazon rainforests in South America. Females, which grow to nearly a foot in length, can live up to 30 years, mating with males and then devouring them.

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The goliath spider is the second largest spider to the giant huntsman spider, the biggest spider in the world by leg span. The goliath, however, is arguably the largest in mass.

Goliaths are so alarmingly large and possess a hairy appearance thay're mistaken for small mammals or rodents such as rats.

Entomologist and wildlife photographer Piotr Naskrecki who had a surprising encounter with the creature thought it was some big, hairy animal the size of a rodent. He later realized it was a goliath spider and became excited at seeing and documenting the incredible spider.

Naskrecki has authored 30 scientific papers and is also a passionate field scientist. He was searching for katydids when he encountered the goliath spider in the Amazon wild.

The goliath attacked Naskrecki, lunging at his face. The spider's prickly shroud of black hair scratched Naskrecki's eyeballs, making his eyes itch and water for a week.

Before the attack, the tarantula was hissing repeatedly and rubbing its hairs together then revealing its massive fangs that can puncture a mouse's skull.

Although the venom of the goliath bird eating spider isn't deadly to humans, its massive sharp fangs can inflict deep wounds. After his close encounter with the spider last week, Naskrecki believes he can now handle these gargantuan creatures more carefully.

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