Salmon tarantula

This mygale lives in tropical forests and hides in burrows that it makes itself, covering them with canvas to make them more solid. It measures between 20 and 28 cm. As with most species, the males are smaller and live for only two years, while the females can live for around fifteen years. It eats large insects and small mammals.

Its behaviour is calm, and it will choose flight rather than confrontation. To catch its prey, it has two large venom fangs, the chelicerae, and can propel a cloud of stinging hairs. The bite of a tarantula is not fatal to humans, but it is painful and very dangerous for allergy sufferers.

This species is not CITES registered.