The zebra tarantula inhabits major parts of Western Costa Rica, alongside other Central American areas like Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala. The black and white striped pattern seen near the joints of its legs perhaps gives it the name Zebra tarantula.
Size: They are about 10cm to 13cm in length, though the males can be shorter in size.
Color: Their body is brown or black, while cream or white lines run in a longitudinal pattern down their legs.
Between 50 and 2000 eggs are laid and protected with their web. They hatch after a span of 6-8 weeks.
They remain in the burrows for a while after birth and then disperse.
These spiders make dense webs and spend most of the time in spinning them. The males on attaining maturity are known to rub their body on the web for releasing semen.
They may bite, but rarely, unless provoked or instigated. However, their venom is low in toxicity and is not known to cause any danger to mankind.
| Other names | Costa Rican zebra tarantula, striped-knee tarantula |
| Lifespan | Females: Approximately 20 years; Males: 5 years |
| Distribution | Western Costa Rica, alongside other parts of Central America like Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Honduras |
| Habitat | Open areas and semi-arid scrublands |
| Diet | Several insects like cockroaches, small lizards, small beetles, grasshoppers and cricket |
Image Source: I1.wp.com, I.imgur.com, Farm4.staticflickr.com, 3.bp.blogspot.com, Isteam.wsimg.com, Milanzygmunt.com
The zebra tarantula inhabits major parts of Western Costa Rica, alongside other Central American areas like Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala. The black and white striped pattern seen near the joints of its legs perhaps gives it the name Zebra tarantula.
Size: They are about 10cm to 13cm in length, though the males can be shorter in size.
Color: Their body is brown or black, while cream or white lines run in a longitudinal pattern down their legs.
Between 50 and 2000 eggs are laid and protected with their web. They hatch after a span of 6-8 weeks.
They remain in the burrows for a while after birth and then disperse.
These spiders make dense webs and spend most of the time in spinning them. The males on attaining maturity are known to rub their body on the web for releasing semen.
They may bite, but rarely, unless provoked or instigated. However, their venom is low in toxicity and is not known to cause any danger to mankind.
| Other names | Costa Rican zebra tarantula, striped-knee tarantula |
| Lifespan | Females: Approximately 20 years; Males: 5 years |
| Distribution | Western Costa Rica, alongside other parts of Central America like Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Honduras |
| Habitat | Open areas and semi-arid scrublands |
| Diet | Several insects like cockroaches, small lizards, small beetles, grasshoppers and cricket |
Image Source: I1.wp.com, I.imgur.com, Farm4.staticflickr.com, 3.bp.blogspot.com, Isteam.wsimg.com, Milanzygmunt.com
