Tarantula | Description, Care, Habitat & Facts

Tarantula is a type of spider or arachnid. Tarantulas are part of the scientific family Theraphosidae. Like all spiders, the tarantula has eight legs. The legs and body are covered with hairs. Certain hairs on their bellies, called stinging hairs, can be thrown at predators to cause irritation. They help the tarantula scare away predators.

How big are Tarantulas?

Tarantulas can vary in size depending on the species. Their body length ranges from 1 to 4 inches while their stride ranges from 3 to 10 inches. The largest tarantula, which has a 10-inch stride, is called the Goliath Birdeater.

What do Tarantulas eat?

Tarantulas mainly eat insects. Larger tarantulas eat small animals such as mice, birds, frogs, and lizards. They sneak into their prey and pounce on it, poisoning the prey instead of getting caught in the web like many spiders do. After catching their prey, they secrete digestive enzymes into their prey, essentially liquefying their bodies so the spiders can eat them.

Where do Tarantulas live?

There are over 800 species of tarantulas and they can be found all over the planet including North America, Africa, Asia, South America and Europe. They live in a variety of habitats, from deserts to rainforests, but generally in warm environments.

Some species of tarantulas live underground while others live in trees. If they live underground, they dig burrows to live in, spreading webs or webs. If they lived in trees, they would make a tubular tent out of their silk to live there.

Tarantulas Molt

Sometimes, tarantulas shed their skin, or exoskeleton, in a process called molting. As they are young and growing, they molt more often. As they get older, they molt about once a year or shed a leg or part of their coat. Males rarely molt as adults.

Are Tarantulas Venomous?

Yes, they are all poisonous, but their degree of danger to humans varies from tarantula to tarantula. Some bites look like wasp stings while others are known to make humans very sick. Many species are harmless to humans and rarely bite.

Interesting Facts about Tarantulas

They became a popular pet.