Home / Tarantulas / Texas Brown Tarantula (Aphonopelma hentzi)

Texas Brown Tarantula (Aphonopelma hentzi)

The Texas brown tarantula has a few other names, like the Oklahoma brown tarantula and the Missouri tarantula. It’s a spider you can often see in the southern areas of the USA. In this post, we’re going to share some interesting facts about this big, fuzzy spider.

Scientific Classification

Texas Brown Tarantula

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

  • Size: Females are 5.5 – 5.9 inches ( 14-15 cm) and males are 4.7- 5.5 inches (12-14 cm).
  • Color: They have a dark brown body, with the color varying from one tarantula species to the other. These spiders even have rusty orange hairs on their carapace.
  • Other Characteristic Features: Overall, they have a stocky and hairy appearance.
Texas Brown Tarantula Size

Eggs

Female spiders make egg sacs 4-5 months after copulation, and around 1,000 eggs are discharged there. The eggs remain securely encased within a web resembling a hammock, made inside their burrows. It takes 45-60 days for the eggs to hatch.

Spiderlings

Post hatching, the spiderlings often stay with their mothers for a few days and then go on to make their own burrows.

Texas Brown Tarantula Baby

The Web

Since they live in burrows, they secure the entrance with some web-like patterns in the shape of a hammock.

Texas Brown Tarantula Web

Are Texas Brown Tarantula Venomous?

Yes, the Texas Brown Tarantula has venom. But it’s mainly used to catch their food. For people, it’s usually not very harmful.

Can Texas Brown Tarantula Bite?

Texas Brown Tarantulas can bite if they feel threatened. But they mostly prefer to stay away and be peaceful.

Texas Brown Tarantula Male Female

Quick Facts

Other Names Missouri tarantula, Oklahoma brown tarantula
Distribution Louisiana, Arkansas, New Mexico, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Colorado
Habitat Burrows, grasslands, abandoned underground dens of other animals
Diet Grasshoppers, cockroaches, and crickets
Lifespan Females: 36-40 years
Males: 12-15 years
IUCN Conservation Status Not Listed
Texas Brown Tarantula Spider

Did You Know

  • Male Texas brown tarantula goes through molting phases and comes out with a completely different appearance than their juvenile stage.

Image Credits: Bugguide.net, Citybugs.tamu.edu, Bdj.pensoft.net, 2.bp.blogspot.com, Nature-braun.blogspot.com, Pm1.narvii.com

The Texas brown tarantula has a few other names, like the Oklahoma brown tarantula and the Missouri tarantula. It’s a spider you can often see in the southern areas of the USA. In this post, we’re going to share some interesting facts about this big, fuzzy spider.

Texas Brown Tarantula

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

  • Size: Females are 5.5 – 5.9 inches ( 14-15 cm) and males are 4.7- 5.5 inches (12-14 cm).
  • Color: They have a dark brown body, with the color varying from one tarantula species to the other. These spiders even have rusty orange hairs on their carapace.
  • Other Characteristic Features: Overall, they have a stocky and hairy appearance.
Texas Brown Tarantula Size

Eggs

Female spiders make egg sacs 4-5 months after copulation, and around 1,000 eggs are discharged there. The eggs remain securely encased within a web resembling a hammock, made inside their burrows. It takes 45-60 days for the eggs to hatch.

Spiderlings

Post hatching, the spiderlings often stay with their mothers for a few days and then go on to make their own burrows.

Texas Brown Tarantula Baby

The Web

Since they live in burrows, they secure the entrance with some web-like patterns in the shape of a hammock.

Texas Brown Tarantula Web

Are Texas Brown Tarantula Venomous?

Yes, the Texas Brown Tarantula has venom. But it’s mainly used to catch their food. For people, it’s usually not very harmful.

Can Texas Brown Tarantula Bite?

Texas Brown Tarantulas can bite if they feel threatened. But they mostly prefer to stay away and be peaceful.

Texas Brown Tarantula Male Female

Quick Facts

Other Names Missouri tarantula, Oklahoma brown tarantula
Distribution Louisiana, Arkansas, New Mexico, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Colorado
Habitat Burrows, grasslands, abandoned underground dens of other animals
Diet Grasshoppers, cockroaches, and crickets
Lifespan Females: 36-40 years
Males: 12-15 years
IUCN Conservation Status Not Listed
Texas Brown Tarantula Spider

Did You Know

  • Male Texas brown tarantula goes through molting phases and comes out with a completely different appearance than their juvenile stage.

Image Credits: Bugguide.net, Citybugs.tamu.edu, Bdj.pensoft.net, 2.bp.blogspot.com, Nature-braun.blogspot.com, Pm1.narvii.com