Knowra Tarantula Tarantula A tarantula is a large, hairy spider in the infraorder Mygalomorphae. Tarantulas include hundreds of species found across tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions.
Urticating hair : A detachable, irritating body hair used by some animals for defense. Many New World tarantulas flick these hairs at attackers, causing irritation to skin and mucous membranes.
Mygalomorphae : An infraorder of spiders that includes tarantulas, funnel-web spiders, and trapdoor spiders. Tarantulas belong to this lineage of spiders, whose fangs generally point downward.
Tarantula keeping : The captive care and breeding of tarantulas as pets or for study. Keeping practices depend on species-specific needs for enclosure, humidity, and shelter.
Wolf spider : A fast, ground-hunting spider in the family Lycosidae that carries its egg sac and young. Wolf spiders are often mistaken for tarantulas but belong to a different spider lineage.
Goliath birdeater : A very large South American tarantula, Theraphosa blondi, known for its size and urticating hairs. It is a prominent example of the group’s exceptional body size and defensive hairs.
Spider silk : A protein fiber spun by spiders through specialized silk-producing organs. Tarantulas use silk to line retreats, wrap egg sacs, and lay signals around burrows.
Araneae : The order comprising all spiders, distinguished from other arachnids by silk-producing organs and fangs. Tarantulas are one diverse branch within the spider order.
Spider venom research : Scientific study of spider venoms and their effects on biological systems. Tarantula toxins help researchers investigate ion channels and potential drug leads.
Trapdoor spider : A mygalomorph spider that constructs a silk-hinged door over its burrow. Trapdoor spiders share the tarantula's broader lineage but are generally smaller and build distinctive burrow doors.
Mexican redknee tarantula : A conspicuously marked Mexican tarantula in the genus Brachypelma. Its orange-red leg markings make it one of the best-known tarantula species.
Show all 28