Whit-nee-Brazilian White-knee Tarantula Acanthoscurria geniculata)
Whit-nee arrived at the ONC in April 2026 as a spiderling (baby spider) by way of an arachnid breeder. Whit-nee is part of the Education and Outreach departments. Whitnee loves to eat crickets and mealworms. She rears up on her back legs and slams down on food as it approaches. Once she has her food caught, she injects venom with her fangs which liquifies the inside of the food and then she slurps up the insides of the animals. Whit-nee is a highly skilled ground hunter who is hard to escape.
- Lifespan in the wild: Females 15 to 20 years. Males 3 to 4 years
- Lifespan in captivity: Females 20 years. Males 4 years
- Length: 5 to 8 inches (Adult)
Fascinating Facts:
Brazilian White-Knees hunt and eat lizards, insects, and small mammals. This species of
tarantula lives in the rainforests of Brazil. Females can reach sizes of 8.5 inches. Males
are much smaller. Females produce egg sacs containing 50 to 200 eggs. The spiderlings
or slings hatch in 6 to 8 weeks. Whit-knees take 3 to 4 years to reach maturity and are
considered one of the fastest growing species. They are very popular with arachnid
lovers.
