wolf spider vs. tarantula

any of numerous ground spiders of the family Lycosidae, including the southern European tarantula, Lycosa taretula, that hunt their prey instead of using a web.

any of several large, hairy spiders of the family Theraphosidae, as Aphonopelma chalcodes, of the southwestern U.S., having a painful but not highly venomous bite.

any of various related spiders.

a large wolf spider, Lycosa tarantula, of southern Europe, having a bite once thought to be the cause of tarantism.