Home / Tarantulas / Purple Tarantula (Avicularia purpurea)

Purple Tarantula (Avicularia purpurea)

Also called the ‘purple tree tarantula’, ‘Ecuadorian purple tarantula’, and ‘Ecuador purple pinktoe’, this species is a spider found throughout Ecuador. It is arboreal by nature and are often found in cracks and crevices of trees.

Scientific Classification

Purple Tarantula

 

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

Size: They can reach a maximum length of about 5 cm (2.0 in).

Color: The body is a solid brownish to purplish black, while the hairs have a lighter hue.

Other Characteristic Features: The entire body is covered with fine, velvety hair growths except the back of the cephalothorax and the abdomen.

Purple Tarantula Size

Eggs

After an aggressive mating with the male, the females lay up to 120 eggs in a cocoon after a few months. The mother keeps protecting the cocoon until the baby spiders are ready to come out.

Spiderlings

After six to eight weeks anything between 50 and 120 nymphs come out since not all eggs hatch successfully. As they emerge, the young spiders are taken care by the female until they attain maturity and are ready to find their own food.

How Poisonous is the Purple Tarantula Spider

This tarantula is not venomous and there are no reports of humans being seriously affected by their bites except that a bite might only give symptoms like local rashes, redness, or a mild swelling.

Ecuadorian Purple Tarantula

Quick Facts

Lifespan Not known, but females live longer than males
Distribution Found only in Ecuador
Habitat In agricultural areas, especially in the grazing cattle fields
Common predators Various kinds of reptiles and birds
Diet Crickets, meal worms, cockroaches, waxworms and darkling beetles

Did You Know

  • Some reports say that they have been seen feasting on small rodents.
Purple Tree Tarantula

Image Credits: I.pinimg.com, Featuredcreature.com, Renatoespinosa-photography.com

Also called the ‘purple tree tarantula’, ‘Ecuadorian purple tarantula’, and ‘Ecuador purple pinktoe’, this species is a spider found throughout Ecuador. It is arboreal by nature and are often found in cracks and crevices of trees.

Purple Tarantula

 

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

Size: They can reach a maximum length of about 5 cm (2.0 in).

Color: The body is a solid brownish to purplish black, while the hairs have a lighter hue.

Other Characteristic Features: The entire body is covered with fine, velvety hair growths except the back of the cephalothorax and the abdomen.

Purple Tarantula Size

Eggs

After an aggressive mating with the male, the females lay up to 120 eggs in a cocoon after a few months. The mother keeps protecting the cocoon until the baby spiders are ready to come out.

Spiderlings

After six to eight weeks anything between 50 and 120 nymphs come out since not all eggs hatch successfully. As they emerge, the young spiders are taken care by the female until they attain maturity and are ready to find their own food.

How Poisonous is the Purple Tarantula Spider

This tarantula is not venomous and there are no reports of humans being seriously affected by their bites except that a bite might only give symptoms like local rashes, redness, or a mild swelling.

Ecuadorian Purple Tarantula

Quick Facts

Lifespan Not known, but females live longer than males
Distribution Found only in Ecuador
Habitat In agricultural areas, especially in the grazing cattle fields
Common predators Various kinds of reptiles and birds
Diet Crickets, meal worms, cockroaches, waxworms and darkling beetles

Did You Know

  • Some reports say that they have been seen feasting on small rodents.
Purple Tree Tarantula

Image Credits: I.pinimg.com, Featuredcreature.com, Renatoespinosa-photography.com