Tarantula

This article is about the spider family, Theraphosidae. For the European tarantula wolf spider, see Lycosa tarantula. For other uses, see Tarantula (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with tarantella.

Tarantula
Temporal range: Cretaceous–present
Tliltocatl vagans
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Mygalomorphae
Clade: Avicularioidea
Family: Theraphosidae
Thorell, 1869
Diversity[1]
166 genera, 1,100 species

Tarantulas comprise a group of large and often hairy spiders of the family Theraphosidae.[2] As of December 2023, 1,100 species have been identified, with 166 genera.[3] The term "tarantula" is usually used to describe members of the family Theraphosidae, although many other members of the same infraorder (Mygalomorphae) are commonly referred to as "tarantulas" or "false tarantulas". Some of the more common species have become popular in the exotic pet trade. Many New World species kept as pets have setae known as urticating hairs that can cause irritation to the skin, and in extreme cases, cause damage to the eyes.[4]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference NMBE was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Shultz, Stanley; Shultz, Marguerite (2009). The Tarantula Keeper's Guide. Hauppauge, New York: Barron's. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-7641-3885-0.
  3. ^ "Currently valid spider genera and species", World Spider Catalog, Natural History Museum Bern, retrieved 20 August 2022
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Blaikie97 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).