Post by Creeper on Apr 30, 2015 8:19:45 GMT 5
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Suborder: Mygalomorphae
Family: Theraphosidae
Genus: Aphonopelma
Species: Aphonopelma hentzi
Aphonopelma hentzi, known as the Missouri tarantula, Texas brown or is the most common species of tarantula in the southern United States. A. hentzi may grow in excess of a 4" (10cm) leg span, and weigh more than 3 oz (85g) as adults. The body is dark brown in color. Shades may vary between individual tarantulas and is more distinct after moult.
Life Cycle
Female A. hentzi can lay up to 1,000 eggs. The eggs are positioned securely in a web, which remains in the tarantula burrow, and guarded by the female. Eggs hatch in 45 to 60 days. Once spiderlings leave the egg sac, it's not unusual to stay with the females for up to a week or possibly longer before dispersing to make their own burrows.
Females have been known to live up to 30 years but may be longer. Males rarely live over 1 year after they have matured.
Habitat
A. hentzi lives in North America throughout Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, southern Kansas and Missouri, and northwestern Louisiana and other adjoining areas in the U.S. and Northeast Mexico. The spider can also be found in Colorado, and has been observed as far north as Denver. They are commonly found in grasslands, burrowed under ground; or using logs, stones, or other small animal's abandoned dens as their home and feeding grounds. Texas Brown tarantulas will use their spinnerets to line the entrance of their shelter with webbing so as to detect passing prey. Tarantula are often restricted to the ground but can climb.
Missouri tarantulas have been known to share burrows with Gastrophryne olivacea, the narrow mouthed toad.
Food
In captivity, the diet of a Texas Brown tarantula consists primarily of cockroaches, crickets, and the occasional pinky mouse. Pinky mice should be fed only once or twice a year, if ever, to avoid health problems. It is important not to overfeed a tarantula, especially young tarantulas, as this causes their organs to not form properly and thus cutting their life short. During a large feeding, the abdomen (opisthosoma) will often increase in size by two-fold.
If overfeeding is suspected or observed (it will look abnormally big and shiny), allow the tarantula as much time as it takes for its swollen abdomen to decrease in size, even if it takes months, by not offering any food during this time period.
Pets
Texas Brown tarantulas are very common as pets because of their docility. Like many other popular pet tarantula species, Texas Brown tarantula are easy to handle, very low maintenance, and inexpensive to care for. Habitats should be kept in a terrarium with low humidity and the surrounding temperature set to 68-86°F. The length should be wider than twice the leg-span of the tarantula, and should include shelter for hiding and sleeping while inside the terrarium.
Recommended feeding includes four to six live crickets every few weeks. Gut loading, or providing prey with vitamins and other nutrients, provides tarantulas with a healthy meal. Uneaten prey should be removed after one day. Fasting, or not eating, for days or weeks at a time is sometimes an indication of an upcoming molt. A water dish should be supplied and maintained, shallow enough for the tarantula to drink from.
Defense
When disturbed, like most other tarantulas, the Texas Brown will maneuver itself to a stance on its hind legs and raise its front legs in a threatening manner. Also, Texas Brown tarantulas have small coarse brown and/or black urticating hairs on their abdomen that they will kick in the direction of whatever they may feel threatened by. Bites from the Texas Brown tarantula are generally not a serious harm to humans. Apply a cold compress to the area, and if swelling or a rash occurs, seek medical attention.
References
Missouri Tarantula- Missouri Department of Conservation Field Guide
Aspects of the natural history and behavioural ecology of the tarantula spider Aphonopelma hentzi (Girard, 1854) (Orthognatha, Theraphosidae)
INTERACTIONS BETWEEN TARANTULAS (APHONOPELMA HENTZI) AND NARROW-MOUTHED TOADS (GASTROPHYRNE OLIVACEA): SUPPORT FOR A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP
