Longlegs aren't spiders, either.
True, although they are arachnids.
What is that ugly *expletive deleted*ing thing, by the way, and why did you not incinterate it on sight?
See post #4 for what they are. I'm not arachnophobic, and kind of like having them around to keep undesirable bugs in check, so no desire to squash'em. Unless they are black widows or brown recluses, then they are toast.
Never seen any tarantulas around these parts that I recall. Too bad, they're neat spiders. Saw a few in SoCal at Stumps and in AZ years ago when I lived there.
Saw one in a gas station restroom on the floor between the toilet I was squatting on and the wall. That was many moons ago, so long ago I forgot where it was. I was a kid traveling with my Dad on business that summer. Idaho, maybe? It was just sitting there, minding it's own business. So I did mine and left.