Brazilian whiteknee tarantula

Brazilian whiteknee tarantula
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Mygalomorphae
Family: Theraphosidae
Genus: Acanthoscurria
Species: A. geniculata
Binomial name
Acanthoscurria geniculata
(C.L. Koch, 1841)[1]
Synonyms[1]

Mygale geniculata C.L. Koch, 1841
Scurria geniculata C.L. Koch, 1850

The Brazilian whiteknee tarantula (Acanthoscurria geniculata) is a species of tarantula.

Distribution and habitat

Acanthoscurria geniculata is native to the Amazon basin of Northern Brazil. These tarantulas live in a tropical, wet climate, characterized by abundant rainfall with little or no dry season.[2]

Description

Acanthoscurria geniculata shows brilliant black color and white banded brown or black legs. The males are smaller and less intensely colored. This is a large species, with a body-length reaching 9 centimetres (3.5 in). These tarantulas are fast growing, taking up to 3–4 years to reach a mature leg-span of 8.5 inches for females.[2][3][4]

Human culture

These tarantulas have been much prized as pets, due to their size, hardiness, and striking colouration. They are moderately defensive, and their urticating hairs can be quite irritating to human skin.[4]

These spiders, like many un-domesticated pets, can bite when provoked. Fortunately because they have urticating hairs, biting is typically not their first line of defence. Their venom is not considered medically significant, but due to their large size the puncture wounds can be damaging.[4]

Photos

References

Wikispecies has information related to: Whitebanded Tarantula
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