Tarantula - Theraphosidae Family

 

The tarantula is a spider belonging to the Theraphosidae family. It is an invertebrate having an exoskeleton with two main parts: prosoma and opisthosoma. Depending on the species, tarantulas can be as small as an inch to as big as 4 inches with a leg span of over a foot. All tarantulas have 8 legs.

Animal Classification

Phylum: Anthropoda; Class: Arachnida; Family: Theraphosidae; Order: Araneae. There are over 900 species of tarantula. 

Location

Tarantulas are found all over the world in every environment: tropical, subtropical, and arid places.

Description and Behaviors

The tarantula has eyes, but relies on feeling to hunt. Their fangs are articulated so they can extend downward or be brought back in. Tarantulas eat insects and if they are big enough, will hunt mice, birds, lizards, and other animals. Their mouths are straw-shaped, so the prey must be sucked dry of its blood or ground up and digested before eating by way of coating the prey with secreted digestive juices. They molt periodically and all species can produce silk. All tarantulas need water to survive.

Tarantulas are venomous creatures and while bites are not fatal, some people develop severe allergic reactions to the toxins they ingest. Males are smaller than females and die shortly after mating. Once males reach adulthood (up to 10 years) they begin looking for a mate. Females continue to molt after reaching adulthood, and have been recorded living longer than 40 years.

In some areas of the world, tarantulas are a delicacy.