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Mexican Flame Knee Tarantula (Brachypelma auratum)

Did you know there’s a spider called the Mexican flame knee tarantula? It gets its cool name from the bright orange color on its legs. This tarantula comes from places called Guerrero and Michoacán. It’s a lot like another spider, the Brachypelma smithi. We have more fun facts to share about this topic here!

Scientific Classification

Mexican Flame Knee

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

  • Size: The Mexican Flame Knee Tarantula has an impressive size, averaging between 14-15 cm.

Mexican Flame Knee Tarantula Size

  • Color: Their entire bodies are black, except for their knees, which have a flaming bright orange coloration.
  • Other Characteristic Features: There are setae on several parts of this tarantula’s body, notably the legs and abdomen.

Mexican Flame Knee Tarantula

Eggs

Once mating takes place, the female lays 50-2000 eggs at a time.

Spiderlings

After 8-9 weeks, the eggs hatch. The juveniles are very skittish and display burrowing behavior.

The Web

Similar to other tarantulas, they do not use webs to catch prey.

Mexican Flame Knee Web

Are Mexican Flame Knee Tarantulas Venomous?

Yes, Mexican Flame Knee tarantulas have venom, but it’s usually mild and not dangerous to humans.

Can Mexican Flame Knee Tarantulas Bite?

Yes, Mexican Flame Knee tarantulas can bite. They might do so if they feel scared, but their bite feels like a small pinch to most people.

Brachypelma Auratum

Ecological Importance and Behavior of Mexican Flame Knee Tarantula

Mexican Flame Knee Tarantulas play an essential role in their ecosystem by controlling the population of insects such as cockroaches, crickets, and locusts. Their burrowing behavior is also beneficial to the soil, helping to aerate and mix it, which can promote plant growth.

Natural Predators: In the wild, these tarantulas face threats from larger predators, including birds, reptiles, and mammals, which can prey upon them despite their venomous defense.

Prey-Predator Dynamics: As predators, the venom of the Mexican Flame Knee Tarantula is effective against the insects they prey upon, which helps maintain a balanced ecosystem by controlling insect population sizes.

Relationship with Humans: Humans find the Mexican Flame Knee Tarantula to be a fascinating pet due to its docile nature and colorful appearance. While they can bite if threatened, their venom is not typically harmful to humans, and bites are likened to a small pinch.

Mexican Flame Knee Image

Quick Facts

LifespanMales: 4-6 years, Females: 20-25 years
DistributionMexico, mainly the Guerrero and Michoacán regions
HabitatUnder tree logs and stones
DietCockroaches, crickets, and locusts

Did You Know

  • German arachnologist Gunter Schmidt first described this spider in 1992.
  • This spider has a collaborative relationship with  Eleutherodactylus occidentalis, a species of frog.

Mexican Flame Knee Tarantula Picture

In conclusion, the Mexican Flame Knee Tarantula is not only an enthralling species to observe but also a vital component of its native habitat.

Did you know there’s a spider called the Mexican flame knee tarantula? It gets its cool name from the bright orange color on its legs. This tarantula comes from places called Guerrero and Michoacán. It’s a lot like another spider, the Brachypelma smithi. We have more fun facts to share about this topic here!

Mexican Flame Knee

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

  • Size: The Mexican Flame Knee Tarantula has an impressive size, averaging between 14-15 cm.

Mexican Flame Knee Tarantula Size

  • Color: Their entire bodies are black, except for their knees, which have a flaming bright orange coloration.
  • Other Characteristic Features: There are setae on several parts of this tarantula’s body, notably the legs and abdomen.

Mexican Flame Knee Tarantula

Eggs

Once mating takes place, the female lays 50-2000 eggs at a time.

Spiderlings

After 8-9 weeks, the eggs hatch. The juveniles are very skittish and display burrowing behavior.

The Web

Similar to other tarantulas, they do not use webs to catch prey.

Mexican Flame Knee Web

Are Mexican Flame Knee Tarantulas Venomous?

Yes, Mexican Flame Knee tarantulas have venom, but it’s usually mild and not dangerous to humans.

Can Mexican Flame Knee Tarantulas Bite?

Yes, Mexican Flame Knee tarantulas can bite. They might do so if they feel scared, but their bite feels like a small pinch to most people.

Brachypelma Auratum

Ecological Importance and Behavior of Mexican Flame Knee Tarantula

Mexican Flame Knee Tarantulas play an essential role in their ecosystem by controlling the population of insects such as cockroaches, crickets, and locusts. Their burrowing behavior is also beneficial to the soil, helping to aerate and mix it, which can promote plant growth.

Natural Predators: In the wild, these tarantulas face threats from larger predators, including birds, reptiles, and mammals, which can prey upon them despite their venomous defense.

Prey-Predator Dynamics: As predators, the venom of the Mexican Flame Knee Tarantula is effective against the insects they prey upon, which helps maintain a balanced ecosystem by controlling insect population sizes.

Relationship with Humans: Humans find the Mexican Flame Knee Tarantula to be a fascinating pet due to its docile nature and colorful appearance. While they can bite if threatened, their venom is not typically harmful to humans, and bites are likened to a small pinch.

Mexican Flame Knee Image

Quick Facts

LifespanMales: 4-6 years, Females: 20-25 years
DistributionMexico, mainly the Guerrero and Michoacán regions
HabitatUnder tree logs and stones
DietCockroaches, crickets, and locusts

Did You Know

  • German arachnologist Gunter Schmidt first described this spider in 1992.
  • This spider has a collaborative relationship with  Eleutherodactylus occidentalis, a species of frog.

Mexican Flame Knee Tarantula Picture

In conclusion, the Mexican Flame Knee Tarantula is not only an enthralling species to observe but also a vital component of its native habitat.