Theraphosa stirmi
| Theraphosa stirmi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Female of Theraphosa stirmi | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Suborder: | Mygalomorphae |
| Family: | Theraphosidae |
| Genus: | Theraphosa |
| Species: | T. stirmi |
| Binomial name | |
| Theraphosa stirmi Rudloff & Weinmann, 2010 | |
Theraphosa stirmi, common name Burgundy goliath bird eater, is a species of tarantula belonging to the family Theraphosidae. [1]
Distribution
This species occurs in Guyana and Venezuela, in tropical South America. [2][3]
Description
In Theraphosa stirmi the carapax can reach a length of 36 millimetres (1.4 in) and a width of 33.4 millimetres (1.31 in).[3][4] Coloration of these heavy-bodied spiders varies from rusty brown or rich burgundy-brown to dark brown, with reddish setae on legs and abdomen and white lines on the legs. Adult males lack mating spurs or tibial apophyses. Spiderlings and juveniles have pink tarsi.[2]
Behavior
These tarantulas hide themselves in long tubes that they dig under the surface or use abandoned rodent burrows. It is a crepuscular and nocturnal specie and it is quite aggressive. [3] It defends itself by shedding its stinging hairs, which can cause severe itching. When it feels threatened, it bites with about 2.5 cm long chelicerae. In captivity, it feeds on mice, rats, large grasshoppers, cockroaches and crickets.
References
- ↑ Platnick, N.I. (2012) The world spider catalog American Museum of Natural History. DOI: 10.5531/db.iz.0001.
- 1 2 J.-P. Rudloff, D. Weinmann: A new giant tarantula from Guyana. In: Arthropoda Scientia, Band 1, Nr. 1, 2010, S. 20–38
- 1 2 3 Basic Tarantulas
- ↑ Arachnoboards