TARANTULA CLASSIFICATION

The Scientific Classification of Tarantulas is as follows:

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Suborder: Mygalomorphae
Superfamily: Theraphosoidea
Family: Theraphosidae
Subfamilies: There are 13 subfamilies of tarantula
Genera: There are 113 genera of tarantula
Species: There are 897 species of tarantula


GEO-LOCATION

Tarantulas are found in North and South America, Europe, Australia, Africa and Southern Asia. In Africa, tarantulas are described as Baboon Spiders.

HABITAT

A tarantula’s habitat ranges from tropical rainforests to the desert. Some species live in silk lined burrow in the ground while others make aerial silk nests in trees.

CHARACTERISTICS

There are nearly 900 species of Tarantulas described.

Tarantulas are categorized into New World and Old World.

- New World tarantulas are found in North and South America (Western hemisphere) and have urticating hairs.
- Old World tarantulas are found in the Eastern hemisphere. Old World Tarantulas do not have urticating hairs but usually compensate for this with an aggressive demeanour.

Tarantulas vary is size with body lengths between 2.5cm and 10cm (1-4in) and leg spans of between 8 and 30cm (3-12in).

All tarantulas are venomous. Only a few species are considered harmful to humans. The bite of a tarantula however can be VERY painful – so don’t get bitten.

NOTES

Many species of tarantula have been bred in captivity and are available in the pet trade around the world. Some countries do not allow importation of exotic tarantulas as well as not allowing the trade of their indigenous tarantulas – it is your responsibility to know the law in your country.