Meet Our Animals

Rosy Haired Tarantula

Grammostola sp.

Names and Personal History:
Rosy: We received her from a Hayes Street neighbor in 2003. Her age is unknown but females can live about twenty years.

Native Habitat:
South America

Environment:
Rosy Haired Tarantulas are a burrowing species of Tarantula, and like to be in an environment that has plenty of hiding places.

Physical Characteristics:
Tarantulas are hairy, large (35 mm or more in length), and have the basic morphology of the true spiders, including two body regions, the cephalothorax (prosoma) and the abdomen (opisthosoma). You can usually identify mature males by the special copulatory organs (palps) on the pedipalps, and by the hooks on the first pair of legs.

Normally, Rose Hairs only bite if threatened, however, they may use their back legs to flick special hairs off of their abdomen. These protective hairs can cause irritation. Humans usually do not come into contact with these hairs, but if one does penetrate the skin, the area may become slightly itchy.

Diet:
Tarantulas are mainly insectivores although some of the larger species will prey on small vertebrates like lizards and frogs.