Theraphosa blondi 1.5”

size 1.5”

The Goliath Birdeating tarantula! This species was the original Theraphosa species described back in 1804 by French zoologist Pierre André Latreille. At the time they were just called Mygale blondii until the genus Theraphosa was later established in 1870 by Swedish arachnologist Tamerlan Thorell. 

This genus is known to be the biggest spiders on the planet, with rumors of them reaching 12+ inches. However most of them reach a much more realistic size of 10 inches. Massivly impressive as adults, they can be quite intimidating when they rear up in a defensive posture. These spiders can stridulate when they rub the modified hairs on their pedipalps and legs together creating a quite audible “hissing” sound.

Found in damp rainforest of Venezuela, Brazil & Guyana. These spiders live in deep abandoned rodent burrows. As adults they will eat insects, frogs, lizards and small rodents. However in captivity they are fine to raise on an invertebrate diet. Theraphosa blondi are known for their very hairy appearance with long hairs covering their patellas and femurs. As slings this species is the only one in the genus that has brown feet instead of pink feet like the other two species. Females can live up to 15 years and grow very quickly.