Desert Tarantula

Description:

The Desert Tarantula aka western desert tarantula, Arizona blond tarantula or Mexican blond tarantula -- is one of about 50 species of terrestrial tarantulas native to the southwestern and central United States.

Habitat:

This big spider's primary range includes arid portions of Arizona, New Mexico, Southern California, and adjacent parts of Mexico. Within this limited range it is actually very common, especially in open shrublands and sparse grasslands with dry, sandy, well-drained soils. Creosote bush scrub and Joshua tree forest are two examples of ecosystems that provide excellent habitat for desert tarantulas.

Notes:

This 3 to 10 inch (7 to 25 cm) large bodied, burrowing spider is commonly seen during the summer rainy season in southwestern deserts. The female is usually a uniform tan color. The male has black legs, a copper-colored cephalothorax and a reddish abdomen. Their burrows can be as large as 1 to 2 inches (25 to 50 mm) in diameter, with some strands of silk across the opening. They feed upon grasshoppers, scorpions, smaller spiders, little lizards and arthropods. Their enemies and predators include larger lizards, snakes, birds and large animals like foxes and coyotes.