| Hit Dice: | 4d10+20 (42 hp) |
| Initiative: | +1 |
| Speed: | 30 ft. (6 squares), fly 60 ft. (good) |
| Armor Class: | 14 (–1 size, +1 Dex, +4 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 13 |
| Base Attack/Grapple: | +4/+13 |
| Attack: | Sting +8 melee (1d8+5 plus poison) |
| Full Attack: | Sting +8 melee (1d8+5 plus poison) and bite +3 melee (1d8+2) |
| Space/Reach: | 10 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | Implant, poison |
| Special Qualities: | Darkvision 60 ft., freedom of movement, low-light vision, scent |
| Saves: | Fort +9, Ref +5, Will +2 |
| Abilities: | Str 21, Dex 13, Con 21, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 10 |
| Skills: | Listen +10, Spot +11; racial bonuses |
| Feats: | Alertness, Dodge |
| Environment: | Temperate forests |
| Organization: | Solitary |
| Challenge Rating: | 5 |
| Treasure: | None |
| Alignment: | Always neutral |
| Advancement: | 5–12 HD (Huge) |
| Level Adjustment: | — |
This beast resembles an enormous, two-legged hornet with a pair of small forelimbs and huge bat wings.
A spider eater has a temperament that matches its nasty appearance. Nevertheless, these predators are valued as flying steeds. A company of bandits mounted on spider eaters is fearsome indeed. The creature gets its name from its ability to shrug off webs and its habit of laying eggs in the paralyzed bodies of enormous creatures, often arachnids.
A spider eater is about 10 feet long and 4 feet high, and has a wingspan of about 20 feet. It weighs about 4,000 pounds.
A spider eater attacks with its venomous sting and powerful mandibles. Its usual tactic is to deliver a sting, then back off, hovering out of reach until the venom takes effect. Spider eaters do not like to give up their prey, and foes who harry them with spells or ranged attacks provoke a determined counterattack.
Implant (Ex): Female spider eaters lay their eggs inside paralyzed creatures of Large or larger size. The young emerge about six weeks later, literally devouring the host from inside.
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 17, initial damage none, secondary damage paralysis for 1d8+5 weeks. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Freedom of Movement (Su): Spider eaters have a continuous freedom of movement ability as the spell (caster level 12th). When the spider eater serves as a mount, this effect does not extend to its rider.
Skills: Spider eaters have a +4 racial bonus on Listen and Spot checks.
A spider eater requires training before it can bear a rider in combat. Training a spider eater requires six weeks of work and a DC 25 Handle Animal check. Riding a spider eater requires an exotic saddle. A spider eater can fight while carrying a rider, but the rider cannot also attack unless he or she succeeds on a Ride check.
Spider eater eggs are worth 2,000 gp apiece on the open market, while young are worth 3,000 gp each. Professional trainers charge 3,000 gp to rear or train a spider eater.
Carrying Capacity: A light load for a spider eater is up to 306 pounds; a medium load, 307–612 pounds; and a heavy load, 613–920 pounds.
Source: Monster Manual (version 3.5), page 234.