Brachypelma: Encyclopedia - Brachypelma

Brachypelma

B. albopilosum Valerio 1980
B. angustum Valerio 1980
B. annitha Tesmoingst, Cleton and Verdez 1997b
B. auratum Schmidt 1992
B. aureoceps (Chamberlin 1917)
B. baumgarteni Smith 1993
B. boehmei Schmidt 1994
B. embrithes (Chamberlin and Ivie 1936)
B. emilia (White 1854)
B. epicureanum (Chamberlin 1925)
B. fossorium Valerio 1980
B. hamorii Tesmoingst, Cleton and Verdez 1997 B. klassi (Schmidt and Krause 1994)
B. mesomelas (Pickard-Cambridge 1897)
B. ruhnaui (Schmidt 1997)
B. sabulosum (Pickard-Cambridge 1897)
B. schroederi Rudloff 2003
B. smithi (Pickard-Cambridge 1897)
B. vagans (Ausserer 1875)
B. verdezi (Schmidt 2003)

Brachypelma is a genus of the family Theraphosidae containing various species of tarantulas.

Brachypelma - Characteristics

The species are native to parts of South and Central America. They are docile tarantulas whose individuals are easy to keep in a terrarium. The most famous species in this genus are the Mexican Redknee tarantula B. smithi, Curlyhair B. albopilosum, Mexican Fireleg B. boehmei, and the Mexican Redrump B. vagans. They feed on almost anything smaller than themselves, so while insects and mice are the norm, they may also eat anoles, frogs, and even live minnows if they are offered. These species, like most tarantulas when kept in captivity, often become cannibalistic, so individuals must be kept singly, though brief captive introductions of a mate for breeding purposes rarely result in a dead spider, so long as they are separated once they have finished.

B. verdezi was previously misidentified as non-valid 'B.pallidum'.

Brachypelma - Life Cycle

These spiders are exceptionally slow growers and have impressive life spans. After hatching from a clutch that may vary from 50 to 300 eggs, the spiderlings will molt every two weeks for the first few months, then less and less frequently as they mature. A full-grown Brachypelma may molt as infrequently as once a year. These tarantulas reach sexual maturity at the age of around five years,

Large spiders used in Hollywood movies (e.g. Indiana Jones, The Mummy Returns) are often Brachypelma smithi or Brachypelma emilia because they are very docile, though the much less expensive and only moderately more agressive Chilean Rose Tarantula is frequently used as well. While it is almost unheard of for a Brachypelma to bite a human, they are quick to kick urticating hairs in self-defense, though their hairs are reportedly less irritating than those of other species, especially the goliath birdeater.

See also

Pinktoe Tarantula Chilean Rose Tarantula Avicularia Goliath Birdeater Brazilian whiteknee tarantula Cobalt blue tarantula Tarantula

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Brachypelma", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki