Caribena

Did you know there’s a special group of tarantulas called Caribena? As of March 2017, there are just two types in this group! They used to be part of another group Avicularia but stand out because of their unique long, thin hairs. Discover fun facts about them right here!

Scientific Classification

• Family: Theraphosidae
• Genus: Caribena

Spiders Belonging to this Genus

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

• Size: Females are bigger than males with a length of 4.7 – 5.9 inches (12 – 15 cm).
• Color: Caribena laeta has a brown body while Caribena versicolor has red, green, purple, and black shades on it.
• Other Characteristic Features: Male spiders have smaller abdomens than females.

Eggs

Eggs are deposited in a secure way inside a sac.

Spiderlings

Spiderlings show preferences for living close to any surface.

The Web

The spiders make funnel-shaped webs on trees where they spend most of their time.

Are Caribena Tarantulas Venomous?

Yes, Caribena tarantulas do have venom. But guess what? For most humans, this venom isn’t too harmful. They mainly use it to catch their meals.

Can Caribena Tarantulas Bite?

Indeed, Caribena spiders can bite. It might be a bit uncomfortable, but it’s usually not something to be too worried about for most people.

Quick Facts

Distribution	Martinique, US Virgin Islands, Cuba, and Puerto Rico
Habitat	Trees in the woods, and gardens
Diet	Cockroaches, grasshoppers, wax moths, and crickets
Web Type	Funnel-shaped
Lifespan	Female: 10-12 years Male: 3-4 years

Did You Know

• It derives its name from the Spanish word ‘Caribeña’, which means from the Caribbean.
• The genus name was developed by Rogério Bertani, and Caroline Fukushima, in 2017.

Image credits: arachnoboards.com