We stumbled upon a fellow traveler on one of our desert treks. Notice the dime Norm placed next to him to estimate his relative size. Yes, he is furry all over. How would you like this guy crawling out of your sleeping bag. I understand Tarantula's are harmless. Yikes!!!
- Height: Approximately 2-3 inches high.
- Body length: Approximately 3-4 inches.
- Life Span: Females-40+ years, Males-15 years.
- Color: Light brown abdomen with dark brown legs.
- Females: Are larger than males, and have an abdomen about the size of a quarter.
- Males: Smaller than females.
- Characteristics: Have 8 legs, 2 big fangs, and are very hairy
Tarantulas are solitary animals and can live up to 30 years. They are nocturnal hunters and are generally nonagressive. Moreover, they can live in burrows that are 2 feet deep. This species (Aphonopelma) has the longest life span of any other spider. Furthermore, most tarantulas are killed by predatory wasps called Tarantula hawks. The Tarantula hawks sting their prey and use the dead tarantula body to lay their eggs in. In addition, the offspring of the Tarantula hawks rely on the leftover body parts to supply them with food.
Unlike other spiders, tarantulas use their silk to line their burrows instead of catching their prey. They have a pair of silk producing spinnerets located on the abdomen. Moreover, the female tarantula uses her silk to protect her delicate baby eggs. In addition, tarantulas shed their skins to adapt to their growing bodies.
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