Cyriopagopus genus of the tarantula family is indigenous to different parts of Southeast Asia, from Myanmar to the Philippines, China to Thailand. As per April 2020 records, it has nine species, with some of them placed in the Haplopelma genus before.
Size: The average length of female spiders is from 2.0 – 3.3 inches (5.3 – 8.5 cm), with a longer leg span, though. The male spiders are characteristically smaller.
Color: Most of the species have a light brown body with variations. Like, the Cobalt blue tarantula (Haplopelma lividum) is distinguished by its blue legs. On the other hand, the Thailand zebra leg tarantula (Cyriopagopus albostriatus) has white stripes on its leg and abdomen.
Other Characteristic Features: They have a velvety, hairy appearance and big fangs.
The small, round eggs have a pale-yellowish coloration, mostly laid within the silken sac kept in the burrow.
Most of the spiderlings have a brown body and stay in the burrow until they mature enough to move independently.
Some species might spin silk to make their retreat, but none of them make webs for catching their prey.
Since the spiders of this genus do not have urticating hairs, they mostly rely on their bite to defend themselves, which indeed is painful. However, few of them, like the cobalt blue tarantula, possess a venom more toxic than the others. Their bite may not be fatal. However, these spiders often pierce their big fangs right into the tissue, causing puncture wounds and triggering bacterial infections if not treated properly.
| Distribution | Southeast Asia |
| Habitat | Rainforest, mountain slopes, burrows |
| Diet | Insects |
| Lifespan | 10-30 years |
Image Credits: arachnoboards.com
Cyriopagopus genus of the tarantula family is indigenous to different parts of Southeast Asia, from Myanmar to the Philippines, China to Thailand. As per April 2020 records, it has nine species, with some of them placed in the Haplopelma genus before.
Size: The average length of female spiders is from 2.0 – 3.3 inches (5.3 – 8.5 cm), with a longer leg span, though. The male spiders are characteristically smaller.
Color: Most of the species have a light brown body with variations. Like, the Cobalt blue tarantula (Haplopelma lividum) is distinguished by its blue legs. On the other hand, the Thailand zebra leg tarantula (Cyriopagopus albostriatus) has white stripes on its leg and abdomen.
Other Characteristic Features: They have a velvety, hairy appearance and big fangs.
The small, round eggs have a pale-yellowish coloration, mostly laid within the silken sac kept in the burrow.
Most of the spiderlings have a brown body and stay in the burrow until they mature enough to move independently.
Some species might spin silk to make their retreat, but none of them make webs for catching their prey.
Since the spiders of this genus do not have urticating hairs, they mostly rely on their bite to defend themselves, which indeed is painful. However, few of them, like the cobalt blue tarantula, possess a venom more toxic than the others. Their bite may not be fatal. However, these spiders often pierce their big fangs right into the tissue, causing puncture wounds and triggering bacterial infections if not treated properly.
| Distribution | Southeast Asia |
| Habitat | Rainforest, mountain slopes, burrows |
| Diet | Insects |
| Lifespan | 10-30 years |
Image Credits: arachnoboards.com
