If you got the idea to have a fluffy tarantula spider as a pet, you should figure out what types of these exotic insects are.
It is a mistake to believe that tarantulas are tarantulas. This confusion was due to an incorrect generalization by the term tarantula, which for some reason united all the large spiders in the world. In fact, tarantulas, unlike tarantulas, belong to migalomorphic spiders and have several dozen genera and hundreds of species.
Types of tarantula spiders
All species differ in size, color, methods of protection and lifestyle, habitat and conditions of their maintenance. After all, each species has its own character.
Zoologists distinguish two main types of tarantulas: terrestrial and arboreal. The main types can be conditionally divided into four subspecies:
Arboreal species of tarantulas live in trees. They are very mobile and active mainly at night, the structure of the legs and body of such spiders is elongated.
Semi-woody species of tarantulas live in dense bushes, under the bark and on the roots of trees. Arboreal and semi-arboreal tarantulas include: Chilocosmia, Avicularia, Poecilotheria and others.
Terrestrial species of tarantulas are preferred by lovers of exotic pets. In the wild, terrestrial tarantulas live in shallow burrows or lead a nomadic life - "wandering spiders". This type includes the following genera: Acanthoscurria, Nhandu, Grammostola, Ceratogyrus and others.
Burrowing species of tarantulas live in burrows and rarely crawl out of them, and they get food right at the entrance of their dwelling, looking for a new prey. Burrowing tarantulas include: Lampropelma, Selenotypus, Haplopelma and others.
According to the habitat among tarantula spiders, two main species can also be distinguished: equatorial (moisture-loving) and semi-desert (drought-resistant).
All tarantula spiders prefer nocturnal lifestyle, and during the day they hide in their shelters, weaving nests from the web. It is noteworthy that newborn spider cubs prefer to live in earthen burrows, and only growing up does each species choose its permanent habitat.
All types of tarantula spiders are poisonous, bites are toxic to the body and can cause fever, severe pain and muscle cramps, however, the bite of this spider cannot lead to death.
Do tarantulas eat birds?
It seems that if the spider was called a tarantula, then the owners of these arthropods will not be stingy with chickens and quails. In fact, the spider's digestive system is not tuned to meat. The basis of the diet of tarantulas is small spiders, flour, cockroaches, and only occasionally a bird or fish.
