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Mexican Red Knee (Brachypelma Smithi)
Currently, there are about 30,000 species of spiders alive today. A few hundred of these spiders are called mygalomorphs. They are hairy, large, and are active, and you know these creatures as tarantulas. You can find tarantulas on all continents except Antarctica, and there are about 30 different kinds of tarantulas in North America. These tarantulas can be found in the southwestern United States, and in Mexico and Central America.
Currently, there are about 30,000 species of spiders alive today. A few hundred of these spiders are called mygalomorphs. They are hairy, large, and are active, and you know these creatures as tarantulas. You can find tarantulas on all continents except Antarctica, and there are about 30 different kinds of tarantulas in North America. These tarantulas can be found in the southwestern United States, and in Mexico and Central America.
Tarantulas have eight legs, two body segments called the cephalothorax (or carapace) and the abdomen, silk-spinning glands and large fangs with venom. They also have eight eyes, but have surprisingly poor eyesight. They have some power of smell, because during the mating season males will follow a female’s trail for miles, but no one knows for sure if they can hear. Their most important sensory organs are their ultriculating hairs. These furry bristles can detect vibrations from great distances, and can also be used to defend themselves. If a tarantula feels threatened in any way it can kick the hairs off into a predators face or onto your skin which causes itching and irritation and many species would much rather do this in defense than bite.
Tarantulas have eight legs, two body segments called the cephalothorax (or carapace) and the abdomen, silk-spinning glands and large fangs with venom. They also have eight eyes, but have surprisingly poor eyesight. They have some power of smell, because during the mating season males will follow a female’s trail for miles, but no one knows for sure if they can hear. Their most important sensory organs are their ultriculating hairs. These furry bristles can detect vibrations from great distances, and can also be used to defend themselves. If a tarantula feels threatened in any way it can kick the hairs off into a predators face or onto your skin which causes itching and irritation and many species would much rather do this in defense than bite.
Tarantulas are venomous, not poisonous. Unless you are allergic to their venom, a bite from one would only cause severe pain and swelling to the area for several hours and then be gone with no adverse affects at all.
Tarantulas are venomous, not poisonous. Unless you are allergic to their venom, a bite from one would only cause severe pain and swelling to the area for several hours and then be gone with no adverse affects at all.
Tarantula’s are nocturnal ground-hunters. They eat insects, small frogs, lizards, baby mice and birds, and sometimes even other tarantulas. That’s why its a good idea if you plan to have more that one for a pet, to keep them in separate enclosures.
Tarantula’s are nocturnal ground-hunters. They eat insects, small frogs, lizards, baby mice and birds, and sometimes even other tarantulas. That’s why its a good idea if you plan to have more that one for a pet, to keep them in separate enclosures.
Captive females can reach 20+ years in age, and males only 5 years or so. You can identify a male by the hook like protrudes on its front knees. They use these to grasp females during mating. The male usually dies soon after wards, or only a few months after his final molt. Molting is something that all arachnids do and its similar to when a snake sheds its skin, only an arachnid gets an entirely new body..They shed their exoskeletons periodically in order to grow.
Captive females can reach 20+ years in age, and males only 5 years or so. You can identify a male by the hook like protrudes on its front knees. They use these to grasp females during mating. The male usually dies soon after wards, or only a few months after his final molt. Molting is something that all arachnids do and its similar to when a snake sheds its skin, only an arachnid gets an entirely new body..They shed their exoskeletons periodically in order to grow.
For more information, search google, dogpile, etc.
For more information, search google, dogpile, etc.
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