Tarantulas

Description

Tarantulas are large, robust spiders, usually quite hairy. Some other spiders of closely related families are sometimes called “tarantula” as well, however. Tarantulas are members of the “sensing web weaver” guild, which hide in their burrow lined with silk and detect prey approaching or entering by vibrations in their webs. Tarantulas are unique because almost all new-world species have stinging bristles called urticating hairs, a defense mechanism shared with many plants and caterpillars. On tarantulas, these are found in a large patch, often visible, on the dorsal opisthosoma - but they are usually only mildly irritating to humans. Theraphosidae are also considered one of the more difficult families to identify.

Species

Aphonopelma anax

"Texas Tan Tarantula"

Description

Confusingly named, this spider is best identified by contrasting its very dark legs with its tan body. The Texas Brown Tarantula, on the other hand, is more evenly brown all over. However, Rose[1] seems to describe both as the same species with high variation.

Notes

Females of this genus can live at least 4 decades and rarely leave their dens; males wander in spring and fall looking for mates, and only survive a couple years at maturity.

Images of Texas Tan Tarantula

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A poor picture taken in surprise, at a distance, of a (probably male) Aphonopelma sp. out wandering Davis Mountains State Park in September.
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A likely Aphonopelma anax crossing a hiking trail in Big Bend National Park in late August.
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  1. Spiders of North America, Sarah Rose, 2022