Poecilotheria genus of the tarantula family has fourteen species in all, as recorded by the World Spider Catalog in 2016. All of the species are under the CITES’ protection since 2019. These arboreal, bright-colored species are also called ornamental tarantulas. An Asian genus, seven of the species inhabit India, six occupy parts of Sri Lanka, while two of them are found in both the countries.
Size: Females are 2.3 -3.1 inches (6 -8 cm) while males measure about 1.1-23 inches (3 – 6 cm).
Color: They come in a variety of colors, with the females appearing brighter than the males. The gooty sapphire ornamental (Poecilotheria metallica) is the only blue species of this genus, while others could come in shades of green, gray, or even orange.
Their abdomen is marked with white and black spots on the dorsal surface, while their first and fourth or the eight pairs of legs have black and yellow patterns.
Other Characteristic Features: Males appear smaller and slender than females. The first and fourth pairs of legs are of similar length in males, while in females, the former is longer than the latter.
The pale green, round eggs remain encased in a silken sac.
Spiderlings do not stay with their mother for the rest of their life but disperse a few days after maturation.
These spiders are not the one making web for entrapping insects. Instead, they chase their prey with speed.
Bites of certain species of this genus could result in moderate to severe pain alongside muscle cramps.
| Other Names | Ornamental tarantulas |
| Distribution | India and Sri Lanka |
| Habitat | Trees |
| Diet | Bats, larvae, Insects, and small birds |
| Lifespan | 10-12 years |
Image Credits: allpetsdirectory.com
Poecilotheria genus of the tarantula family has fourteen species in all, as recorded by the World Spider Catalog in 2016. All of the species are under the CITES’ protection since 2019. These arboreal, bright-colored species are also called ornamental tarantulas. An Asian genus, seven of the species inhabit India, six occupy parts of Sri Lanka, while two of them are found in both the countries.
Size: Females are 2.3 -3.1 inches (6 -8 cm) while males measure about 1.1-23 inches (3 – 6 cm).
Color: They come in a variety of colors, with the females appearing brighter than the males. The gooty sapphire ornamental (Poecilotheria metallica) is the only blue species of this genus, while others could come in shades of green, gray, or even orange.
Their abdomen is marked with white and black spots on the dorsal surface, while their first and fourth or the eight pairs of legs have black and yellow patterns.
Other Characteristic Features: Males appear smaller and slender than females. The first and fourth pairs of legs are of similar length in males, while in females, the former is longer than the latter.
The pale green, round eggs remain encased in a silken sac.
Spiderlings do not stay with their mother for the rest of their life but disperse a few days after maturation.
These spiders are not the one making web for entrapping insects. Instead, they chase their prey with speed.
Bites of certain species of this genus could result in moderate to severe pain alongside muscle cramps.
| Other Names | Ornamental tarantulas |
| Distribution | India and Sri Lanka |
| Habitat | Trees |
| Diet | Bats, larvae, Insects, and small birds |
| Lifespan | 10-12 years |
Image Credits: allpetsdirectory.com
