Tarantula Species
Tarantulas are arachnids belonging to the Family Theraphosidae. There are over 800 documented tarantula species, all of which feature hairy exteriors and large bodies. In the United States, tarantulas are most commonly found in dry, desert habitats. Tarantulas do not spin webs in order to catch food. Rather, they hunt for prey and reside in burrows stuffed full of found detritus.
Four subfamilies of tarantula species exist. The Selenocosmiinae are located primarily in Australia and East Asia, while the Poecilotheriinae tarantulas are native to Sri Lanka and tend to inhabit trees. The Selenogyrinae are common in India and Africa. Tarantulas found in North America belong to the subspecies Theraphosinae.
Scientific Name for Tarantulas
