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Mexican Red Knee Tarantula (Brachypelma hamorii)

The Mexican red knee tarantula, found in parts of Mexico has been a common name used for referring to more than one species of spiders. The Brachypelma hamorii, a tarantula species, has often been mixed with another species named as the Brachypelma smithi. Both of them possessed red knees and could not be distinguished or related to one another. Their striking appearance make popular among many pet enthusiasts.

Scientific Classification

Mexican Red Knee Tarantula

 

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

Size: They are large in size with the females having a length of 52mm to 54mm, while the male counterparts are shorter, being 46mm to 52 mm long. Their fourth leg is said to be the longest, 67 mm in a female and 75 mm in males.

Mexican Red Knee Tarantula Size

Color: Their coloration seems to be unique, as the center of each of their legs having markings of orange-red. The remaining part of their body is brown, with the adult males having a grayish-red coloration around their carapace’s border and reddish black markings from the central part of their tibiae. The carapace of the females may however differ in pattern and coloration, being mostly black, bordered with a shade of brownish pink. The legs below their knees are red in color from which they may have got their name.

Other Characteristic Features: Like most other tarantulas they are robust and heavy having short, dark hairs.

Mexican Red Knee Tarantula Sling

Eggs

The eggs are mostly laid in spring, 1,000 of them at a time in a clutch.

Spiderlings

It takes one to three months for the spiderlings to be hatched from the eggs, though the juvenile spiders remain in their protective shelter for two more weeks before dispersing.

Mexican Red Knee Tarantula Baby
Mexican Red Knee Tarantula Spiderling

The Web

Their webs are located at the entrance of their habitat for the purpose of catching preys which enter into it.

Do the Mexican Red Knee Tarantulas Bite and Are They Poisonous

They may bite when provoked but are not poisonous and the sting is not known to cause any harms to humans.

Mexican Red Knee Tarantula Molting

Quick Facts

Lifespan Males: 5 years Females: 20 to 30 years
Distribution Mexican states of Jalisco, Colima, and Michoacán, Panama and the south-western parts of the United States
Habitat Scrublands, dry thorn forests, deserts, and deciduous forests
Diet Small reptiles, frogs, insects, birds and rodents
Mexican Red Knee Tarantula Image

Did You Know

  • A large number of these spiders are known to have been caught and smuggled outside their place of origin i.e. Mexico. They are in the Near Threatened list and on the risk of being endangered.
Mexican Red Knee Tarantula Spider

Image Source: I.pinimg.com, I1.wp.com, Vignette.wikia.nocookie.net, Hamiltonreptile.com, Thingsbiological.files.wordpress.com,
2img.net

The Mexican red knee tarantula, found in parts of Mexico has been a common name used for referring to more than one species of spiders. The Brachypelma hamorii, a tarantula species, has often been mixed with another species named as the Brachypelma smithi. Both of them possessed red knees and could not be distinguished or related to one another. Their striking appearance make popular among many pet enthusiasts.

Mexican Red Knee Tarantula

 

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

Size: They are large in size with the females having a length of 52mm to 54mm, while the male counterparts are shorter, being 46mm to 52 mm long. Their fourth leg is said to be the longest, 67 mm in a female and 75 mm in males.

Mexican Red Knee Tarantula Size

Color: Their coloration seems to be unique, as the center of each of their legs having markings of orange-red. The remaining part of their body is brown, with the adult males having a grayish-red coloration around their carapace’s border and reddish black markings from the central part of their tibiae. The carapace of the females may however differ in pattern and coloration, being mostly black, bordered with a shade of brownish pink. The legs below their knees are red in color from which they may have got their name.

Other Characteristic Features: Like most other tarantulas they are robust and heavy having short, dark hairs.

Mexican Red Knee Tarantula Sling

Eggs

The eggs are mostly laid in spring, 1,000 of them at a time in a clutch.

Spiderlings

It takes one to three months for the spiderlings to be hatched from the eggs, though the juvenile spiders remain in their protective shelter for two more weeks before dispersing.

Mexican Red Knee Tarantula Baby
Mexican Red Knee Tarantula Spiderling

The Web

Their webs are located at the entrance of their habitat for the purpose of catching preys which enter into it.

Do the Mexican Red Knee Tarantulas Bite and Are They Poisonous

They may bite when provoked but are not poisonous and the sting is not known to cause any harms to humans.

Mexican Red Knee Tarantula Molting

Quick Facts

Lifespan Males: 5 years Females: 20 to 30 years
Distribution Mexican states of Jalisco, Colima, and Michoacán, Panama and the south-western parts of the United States
Habitat Scrublands, dry thorn forests, deserts, and deciduous forests
Diet Small reptiles, frogs, insects, birds and rodents
Mexican Red Knee Tarantula Image

Did You Know

  • A large number of these spiders are known to have been caught and smuggled outside their place of origin i.e. Mexico. They are in the Near Threatened list and on the risk of being endangered.
Mexican Red Knee Tarantula Spider

Image Source: I.pinimg.com, I1.wp.com, Vignette.wikia.nocookie.net, Hamiltonreptile.com, Thingsbiological.files.wordpress.com,
2img.net