Mexican Red Rump Tarantula

Description:

Big red and black tarantula with striped black and grey legs. Leg spread of approximately 8 cm. It is very impressive to see stomping about. It is also called the Mexican Black Velvet Tarantula and if irritated will release urticating hairs. (It looks as though it has been quite irritated recently).

Habitat:

Pine & Oak forest on outskirts of San Cristobal de Las Casas. In the hills above the valley, 2,200 meters.

Notes:

This is probably a male who was out wandering looking for a female. He was crossing the road and had to be rescued from getting run over. The Maya used this species for medicinal treatment of chest pain, cough and asthma by making a beverage from crushed and strained spiders.