Curlyhair Tarantula-Tliltocatl albopilosus
Carol arrived on March 20, 2024 as a two-year old. She is quite docile and doesn’t mind being held. She was purchased at a Reptile and Arachnid Expo and will be an education spider. She likes to hide under pieces of wood in her enclosure and likes to burrow under the substrate.
- Length: Leg span of 6 inches
- Lifespan in Wild: Unknown
- Lifespan in Captivity: Females 25 years and male 5 years
Fascinating Facts:
Native to Honduras, Nicaragua and northeastern Costa Rica and prefer tropical rainforest regions, either around the base of large trees, near rivers or in patches of cleared rainforest. Curly hair tarantulas are nocturnal hunters that lie in wait for prey in their burrows. The sensitive hairs on their legs pick up vibrations that detect prey as it approaches. The spiders rapidly dart out of the burrow to seize passing prey. Holding the prey with their pedipalps they inject powerful venom. The venom serves two purposes – first paralyzing the prey and then beginning digestion. Tarantulas have narrow mouths so they cannot ingest pieces of food. Once the venom has liquefied the prey, the tarantula sucks up the proteins and fats of the prey item leaving behind a small pile of undigested body parts.
