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What is a tarantula spider?
Tarantulas comprise a group of large and often hairy spiders of the family Theraphosidae. [2] . As of December 2023, 1,100 species have been identified, with 166 genera. [3] .
- Theraphosidae, Thorell, 1869
- Arthropoda
Learn about tarantula, a hairy and large spider found in the Americas and Africa. Find out how they hunt, bite, and live in burrows, and see pictures of different species.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
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- Molting. Tarantulas periodically shed their external skeletons in a process called molting. In the process, they also replace internal organs, such as female genitalia and stomach lining, and even regrow lost appendages.
- Habitat. There are hundreds of tarantula species found in most of the world's tropical, subtropical, and arid regions. They vary in color and behavior according to their specific environments.
- Hunting. Tarantulas are slow and deliberate movers, but accomplished nocturnal predators. Insects are their main prey, but they also target bigger game, including frogs, toads, and mice.
- Natural Threats. Tarantulas have few natural enemies, but parasitic pepsis wasps are a formidable exception. Such a wasp will paralyze a tarantula with its sting and lay its eggs on the spider's body.
- Tarantulas are quite docile and rarely bite people. A tarantula bite to a human is often no worse than a bee sting in terms of toxicity, but it can vary by species.
- Tarantulas defend themselves by throwing needle-like hairs at their attackers. If a tarantula does feel threatened, it uses its hind legs to scrape barbed hairs (called urticating or stinging hairs) from its abdomen and flick them in the direction of the threat.
- Female tarantulas can live 30 years or longer in the wild. Female tarantulas are famously long-lived. In captivity, some species have been known to live for over 30 years.
- Tarantulas come in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. Colorful tarantulas that can be kept as pets include the Mexican red knee tarantula (Brachypelma smithi), the Chilean rose tarantula (Grammastola rosea), and the pink-toed tarantula (Aricularia avicularia).
Learn about the tarantula, a large, hairy spider that can be a pet or a delicacy. Find out about its venom, urticating bristles, molting, reproduction, and more.
Jun 19, 2022 · Learn what to consider before getting a pet tarantula, how to set up its habitat, how to handle it safely, and what health issues to watch out for. Find out some of the best tarantula species for beginners and their characteristics.
Learn about tarantulas, the large hairy spiders that live in burrows and hunt insects, frogs, and mice. Find out how they defend themselves from predators, how they molt and regrow, and how their venom affects humans.
