Grammostola

Grammostola genus of the tarantula family comprises medium to large-sized spiders occupying parts of South America. French naturalist Eugene Louis Simon described it for the first time in 1892. The March 2020 records mention that this genus has a total of 20 species.

Scientific Classification

• Family: Theraphosidae
• Genus: Grammostola

 

Spiders Belonging to this Genus

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

Size: Females are 7 – 9 inches (17.7 – 22.8 cm), while males are smaller.

Color: Most of the species belonging to this genus have a brown body with orangish-red or pinkish hairs.

Other Characteristic Features: The male spiders of this genus are characterized by long legs.

Eggs

The eggs are small and round, with about 500 of them laid by the females in a silken sac.

Spiderlings

Some spiderlings go through several molting phases before adulthood.

The Web

They do not make webs but use silk for protecting their burrows. However the male spiders make sperm webs for reproduction.

Are Spiders of the Grammostola Genus Venomous

These spiders hold mild venom that is not usually fatal to humans.

Quick Facts

Distribution	Bolivia, Argentina, Peru, Chile, and Uruguay
Habitat	Scrub, dessert areas, and grassland
Diet	Beetles moths, grasshoppers, cockroaches, lizards, and mealworms
Lifespan	Males: 5-6 years Females: 20-25 years

Did You Know

• Some of the species like Grammostola rosea and Grammostola pulchripes are considered good pets because of their docile nature.
• While petting them, it is necessary to keep their cage dry, as they cannot withstand wet surfaces. Under such circumstances, they would stand on their tip-toe or even climb to the edges of the rails risking a fall.

Image Credits: etsy.com