Texas brown tarantula

Texas brown tarantula
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Arthropoda
Subphylum:Chelicerata
Class:Arachnida
Order:Araneae
Infraorder:Mygalomorphae
Family:Theraphosidae
Genus:Aphonopelma
Species: A. hentzi
Binomial name
Aphonopelma hentzi
(Girard, 1852)
Synonyms[1]
  • Aphonopelma clarki Smith, 1995
  • Aphonopelma coloradanum (Chamberlin, 1940)
  • Aphonopelma echinum (Chamberlin, 1940)
  • Aphonopelma gurleyi Smith, 1995
  • Aphonopelma harlingenum (Chamberlin, 1940)
  • Aphonopelma odelli Smith, 1995
  • Aphonopelma waconum (Chamberlin, 1940)
  • Aphonopelma wichitanum (Chamberlin, 1940)

Aphonopelma hentzi, the Texas brown tarantula, (also known as Oklahoma brown tarantula or Missouri tarantula),[2] is one of the most common species of tarantula living in the southern United States today. Texas brown tarantulas can grow to leg spans in excess of 4 in (10 cm) ,[3] and weigh more than 3 oz as adults. The body is dark brown, though shades may vary between individual tarantulas. The colors are more distinct after a molt, as with many arthropods.

Lifecycle

Females of A. hentzi can lay up to 1,000 eggs. The eggs are positioned securely in a web, which remains in the tarantulas' burrows, and guarded by the females. Eggs hatch in 45 to 60 days. Once spiderlings leave the egg sac, they often stay with the females for several days before dispersing to make their own burrows.

Females have been known to live up to 40 years.[4][5] However, no studies have lasted this long, so the lifespan may be longer. Males rarely live over a year after they have matured.

Defense

A. hentzi is a rather docile and nonaggressive species.[6][7] When disturbed, like most other tarantulas, A. hentzi maneuvers itself to a stance on its hind legs and raises its front legs in a threatening manner. Additionally, A. hentzi and most other tarantulas found in the Americas have small, coarse, brown or black urticating hairs on their abdomen that they kick in the direction of whatever by which they may feel threatened. Bites from the Texas brown tarantula, as with all tarantulas, are generally not a serious harm to humans except in the case of an allergic reaction.[8]

Distribution

The distribution of A. hentzi includes Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana in the US. The species has also been documented in the northern parts of Mexico, extending along the New Mexico and Texas borders.[9][2][10][11]

Habitat

A. hentzi is a terrestrial species commonly found in grasslands, burrowed underground, or using logs, stones, or other small animals' abandoned dens as their home and feeding grounds.[12] Texas brown tarantulas use their spinnerets to line the entrance of their shelters with webbing to detect passing prey.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Hamilton, C.A.; Hendrixson, B.E. & Bond, J.E. (2016), "Taxonomic revision of the tarantula genus Aphonopelma Pocock, 1901 (Araneae, Mygalomorphae, Theraphosidae) within the United States", ZooKeys, 560: 1–340, doi:10.3897/zookeys.560.6264, PMC 4768370, PMID 27006611
  2. 1 2 "Spiders: Tarantula". University of Missouri. 1993–2011. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  3. ↑ http://mobugs.blogspot.com/2010/01/oklahoma-brown-tarantula.html RET. Nov. 20, 2107 22:37 CST
  4. ↑ http://animals.mom.me/care-texas-brown-tarantula-5005.html RET. Nov 20, 2017 23:16 CST.
  5. ↑ https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/missouri-tarantula RET. Nov. 20, 2017, 23:27 CST.
  6. ↑ http://mobugs.blogspot.com/2010/01/oklahoma-brown-tarantula.html RET. Nov.20 2017
  7. ↑ http://animal-world.com/encyclo/reptiles/spiders/OklahomaBrownTarantula.php
  8. ↑ https://www.orkin.com/other/spiders/tarantulas/ RET. Nov. 20, 2017 23:10 CST
  9. ↑ https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/120596-Aphonopelma-hentzi RET. NOV. 20, 2017 22:32 CST
  10. ↑ "Redefining the Type Locality and Range of the Tarantula, Aphonopelma hentzi". Aphonopelma: Tarantulas of the United States. August 9, 2010. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  11. ↑ Aphonopelma hentzi (Girard 1852), female, Denver, Colorado, USA - Tarantulas, Bird Spiders - Rick West, Arachnologist
  12. ↑ http://animal-world.com/encyclo/reptiles/spiders/OklahomaBrownTarantula.php RET. NOV. 20, 2017.
  • Marshall, Samuel D. (2001). Tarantulas and Other Arachnids. Barron's. ISBN 0-7641-1463-8.
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