The Texas brown tarantula, also known as Oklahoma brown tarantula or Missouri tarantula (''Aphonopelma hentzi''), is one of the most common species of

tarantula Tarantulas comprise a group of large and often hairy spiders of the family Theraphosidae. , 1,040 species have been identified, with 156 genera. The term "tarantula" is usually used to describe members of the family Theraphosidae, although m ...

living in the

Southern United States The Southern United States (sometimes Dixie, also referred to as the Southern States, the American South, the Southland, or simply the South) is a geographic and cultural region of the United States of America. It is between the Atlantic Ocean ...

today. Texas brown tarantulas can grow to leg spans in excess of , and weigh more than as adults. Their bodies are dark brown, though shades may vary between individual tarantulas. The colors are more distinct after a

molt In biology, moulting (British English), or molting (American English), also known as sloughing, shedding, or in many invertebrates, ecdysis, is the manner in which an animal routinely casts off a part of its body (often, but not always, an outer ...

, as with many arthropods.

Lifecycle

A female of ''A. hentzi'' can lay up to 1,000 eggs. The eggs are positioned securely in a web shaped like a hammock, which remains in her burrow, and guarded by her. Eggs hatch in 45 to 60 days. Once spiderlings leave the egg sac, they often stay with the female for several days before dispersing to make their own burrows. Females have been known to live up to 40 years. However, no studies have lasted this long, so their lifespan may be longer. Males rarely live over a year after they have matured.

Defense

''A. hentzi'' is a rather docile and nonaggressive species. When disturbed, like most other tarantulas, ''A. hentzi'' maneuvers itself to a stance on its hind legs and raises its front legs in a threatening manner. Additionally, ''A. hentzi'' and most other tarantulas found in the Americas have small, coarse, brown or black

urticating hairs Urticating hairs or urticating bristles are one of the primary defense mechanisms used by numerous plants, almost all New World tarantulas, and various lepidopteran caterpillars. ''Urtica'' is Latin for "nettle" (stinging nettles are in the genu ...

on their abdomens that they kick in the direction of whatever they may feel threatens them. It is the main species preyed upon by the tarantula hawk, '' Pepsis grossa'', in areas where the two species overlap. Bites from the Texas brown tarantula, as with all

New World The term ''New World'' is often used to mean the majority of Earth's Western Hemisphere, specifically the Americas."America." ''The Oxford Companion to the English Language'' (). McArthur, Tom, ed., 1992. New York: Oxford University Press, p. ...

tarantulas, are generally not a serious harm to humans except in the case of an

allergic reaction Allergies, also known as allergic diseases, refer a number of conditions caused by the hypersensitivity of the immune system to typically harmless substances in the environment. These diseases include hay fever, food allergies, atopic derma ...

. Due to the large size of their fangs, the puncture wound from a bite can also be painful and lead to

secondary infection An infection is the invasion of tissues by pathogens, their multiplication, and the reaction of host tissues to the infectious agent and the toxins they produce. An infectious disease, also known as a transmissible disease or communicable dis ...

if not properly treated.

Distribution

The distribution of ''A. hentzi'' includes Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana in the U.S. The species has also been documented in the northern parts of Mexico, extending along the New Mexico and Texas borders.

Habitat

''A. hentzi'' is a terrestrial species commonly found in grasslands, burrowed underground, or using logs, stones, or other small animals' abandoned dens as their homes and feeding grounds.Oklahoma Brown Tarantula
RET. NOV. 20, 2017. Texas brown tarantulas use their

spinnerets A spinneret is a silk-spinning organ of a spider or the larva of an insect. Some adult insects also have spinnerets, such as those borne on the forelegs of Embioptera. Spinnerets are usually on the underside of a spider's opisthosoma, and are ...

to line the entrance of their shelters with webbing to detect passing prey.

References

External links

canadianarachnology.org: ''Aphonopelma hentzi'' - Texas Brown Tarantula
* https://usaspiders.com/aphonopelma-hentzi-texas-brown-tarantula/ {{DEFAULTSORT:Texas brown tarantula Aphonopelma Spiders of Mexico Spiders of the United States Natural history of Missouri Natural history of Oklahoma Natural history of Texas Natural history of Kansas Natural history of Colorado Natural history of Arkansas Natural history of Louisiana