Wolf Spider Size Explained & Compared With Other Types Of Spider

Last Updated on April 10, 2023 by Amin Tawar

Wolf Spider Length

Wolf Spider Size
Wolf Spider Size Explained & Compared With Other Types Of Spider

A wolf spider’s size and look might be alarming, yet these spiders prefer to hide so they can hunt alone. Wolf spiders are sometimes known as hunting spiders or ground spiders. 

They are strong and quick predators with keen vision. Although Wolf spiders come in a variety of sizes, most of them have bodies that are between a quarter of an inch and more than 1.5 inches long. The biggest species may have legs as long as three inches or more.

Wolf Spider Weight

The wolf spider’s large eyes, lengthy legs, hefty body, and enormous mouth appendages may all be used to identify it. The peculiar placement of its eyes in the carapace, which is on the top of the head and finishes at the origin of the mouthparts, is the wolf spider’s unusual characteristic. 

In terms of weight, they often weigh under one ounce. The spider appears larger than it is because its eight legs are substantially longer than its body. In addition, female wolf spiders are typically bigger than males.

What Is the Average Size of a Wolf Spider?

Wolf spiders typically weigh less than an ounce and have bodies that can range in size from 0.24 to 1.5 inches, or around the size of a coin. 

The spider’s eight legs are far longer than its body and oftentimes give the impression that it is much larger than it actually is. On average, females are typically bigger than males.

Furthermore, Wolf spiders are nocturnal creatures that only go out to prey at night. Although they spend most of their time on the ground, they occasionally climb trees or other plants to hunt food. 

They are tall, and wide, with hairy torsos and robust, lengthy legs. The wolf spider is known for its swift movements.

SizeInches/ OuncesCentimetres/ Grams
Length0.24 to 1.5 inches30.48 cm
WeightAbout 1 oz28 g

Wolf Spider Size Comparison to Human Hands 

Wolf Spider Size compared with human hand
Wolf Spider Size Explained & Compared With Other Types Of Spider

If left alone, wolf spiders don’t threaten humans and can even coexist with us. Despite its frightening behavior, bigger creatures like birds, lizards, and rodents frequently eat wolf spiders owing to their tiny size. 

However, they are capable of biting people, although they only do it as a last resort. Wolf spider bites might result in minor discomfort, bruising, and itching. 

They seldom have more serious consequences than this. however, the severity of their potential threat to humans must be understood. One of the simplest ways to figure out this is to compare sizes.

The wolf spider, as previously stated, may grow to a length of 0.24 to 1.5 in and weigh as little as 1oz (30g), whereas the average male adult hand measures 7.6 in from the tip of the longest finger to the crease beneath the palm. 

In contrast, the typical adult female’s hand is 6.8 inches long. We can conclude from these findings that wolf spiders are rather tiny. Moreover, even smaller than an average human hand.

Wolf Spider Vs Brown Recluse Size Comparison

Wolf Spider Size compared with other types of spiders
Wolf Spider Size Explained & Compared With Other Types Of Spider

The two spiders can be distinguished rather easily. The brown recluse spider has tiny six eyes whereas, the Wolf spiders have eight bigger eyes. 

Furthermore, both of these spiders are small. Although wolf spiders may grow up to 1.4 inches in length, brown recluses typically aren’t bigger than an inch. The Carolina wolf spider, which may reach a length of an inch, is the biggest wolf spider in North America.

SizeWolf spiderBrown Recluse spider
Length0.24 to 1.2 inchesUp to 1 inch
WeightAbout 1 oz0.016 oz

Wolf Spider Vs Huntsman Size Comparison

A huntsman spider’s body is just around an inch long, but its leg span can reach up to five inches. Although certain huntsman spiders frequently grow much more extensive than this, such as the giant huntsman spider, have been known to have a leg span of up to 12 inches. 

Whereas, Wolf spiders have a leg span that may reach up to 3 inches and a size ranging from half an inch to over two inches with a leg span of only 2-3 inches. Due to these characteristics, wolf spiders are smaller than huntsman spiders.

SizeWolf spiderHuntsman spider
Length0.24 to 1.2 inches3-5 inches
WeightAbout 1 oz0.024 to 0.37 oz

Wolf Spider Vs Hobo Spider Size Comparison

Although the wolf spider and the hobo spider look almost similar with striped markings on their dorsal surfaces as well as being dark and hairy, closer examination reveals important differences between the two. 

Wolf spiders often grow at least half an inch bigger than hobo spiders. Given that their body and legs are also thick, they are somewhat more dangerous and terrifying than hobo spiders. The wolf spider is the largest of the two spiders, which is at least half an inch larger than the hobo spider.

SizeWolf spiderHobo spider
Length0.24 to 1.2 inches0.28 – 0.55 in
WeightAbout 1 ozLess than 1 oz

Wolf Spider Vs Fishing Spider Size Comparison

Wolf spiders and fishing spiders share many characteristics. When most people see one, they frequently mistake it for the other. But when their sizes are compared, the wolf spider may grow more prominent than the typical fishing spider. 

The fishing spider’s body length can vary; without including its legs, up to 0.35 to 1 inch on average. The body length of wolf spiders ranges from 0.25 inches to 1.2 inches.

Fishing spiders are around the same size as wolf spiders or somewhat larger when the length of the legs is taken into account.

SizeWolf spiderFishing spider
Length0.24 to 1.2 inches0.35 to 1 inch
WeightAbout 1 oz0.04-0.05 oz

Conclusion

And that was everything you need to know about the size of the wolf spider. I hope this article was informative and you got something valuable from it.

Thank You For Reading!

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