Thrixopelma pruriens

Peruvian green velvet tarantula
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Mygalomorphae
Family: Theraphosidae
Genus: Thrixopelma
Species:
T. pruriens
Binomial name
Thrixopelma pruriens
Schmidt, 1998[1]

Thrixopelma pruriens, known as the Peruvian green velvet tarantula,[2] is a species of tarantula found in Chile and Perú in South America.[1][3]

Though docile, this species is rarely kept as a pet in part due to its tendency to fling urticating hairs with minimal provocation.[4]

In 2014, researchers at Yale University identified a toxin called Protoxin-I from the tarantula's venom that shows promise as a new painkiller drug.[5] The toxin reduces activity in an ion channel associated with inflammation and neuropathic pain, making it potentially suitable as a treatment for both normal pain and pathological pain syndromes.[6][2]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference WSC_s37966 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference GuiLiuCaoLipc14 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Schmidt, G. (2003). Die Vogelspinnen: Eine weltweite Übersicht. Hohenwarsleben: Neue Brehm-Bücherei. p. 191.
  4. ^ "Thrixopelma-puriens-care-sheet". Mikebasictarantula.com. Retrieved 2014-03-19.
  5. ^ Hathaway, Bill (2014-02-13). "YaleNews | Within tarantula venom, new hope for safe and novel painkillers found". News.yale.edu. Retrieved 2014-03-19.
  6. ^ "The Peruvian Green Velvet Tarantula's Gift". The New York Times. 17 February 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2014.