''Poecilotheria regalis'' is a species of arboreal

tarantula Tarantulas comprise a group of large and often hairy spiders of the family Theraphosidae. , 1,100 species have been identified, with 166 genera. The term "tarantula" is usually used to describe members of the family Theraphosidae, although ...

and is found in parts of India. The common name for this spider is Indian ornamental tree spider, or simply Indian ornamental. It is one of the most popular arboreal tarantulas for amateur collectors. Their leg span sometimes exceeds 7 inches (18 cm).

Name

The name ''

Poecilotheria ''Poecilotheria'' is a genus of Theraphosidae, tarantulas native to India and Sri Lanka. It was first described by Eugène Simon, Eugène Louis Simon in 1885. They are arboreal tarantulas, commonly known as ornamental tarantulas, known for their v ...

'' is derived from

Greek Greek may refer to: Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...

"poikilos" - spotted and "therion" - wild beast. Regalis refers to "royal". This whole genus of arboreal tarantulas exhibits an intricate fractal-like pattern on the abdomen. The spider's natural habitat is primarily Southeastern

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

Behavior

The behavior of ''P. regalis'' parallels that of many arboreal spiders. In the wild individuals live in holes in tall trees where they make asymmetric funnel webs. Their primary prey consists of various flying insects, which they seize in flight and paralyze. It is not unknown for the spiders of this genus to live communally when territory, i.e. the number of holes per tree, is limited. They tend to be quite defensive spiders.

Bites

Although there has never been a recorded death from any

bite, this species is considered to have a medically significant bite, with

venom Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a sti ...

that may cause intense pain, judging from the experience of keepers bitten by other spiders from this

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

. They move rapidly and, although they generally prefer flight to fight, they may attack when cornered. In addition to the direct effects of the venom, the large fangs can produce

puncture wound Penetrating trauma is an open wound injury that occurs when an object pierces the skin and enters a tissue of the body, creating a deep but relatively narrow entry wound. In contrast, a blunt or ''non-penetrating'' trauma may have some deep da ...

s which themselves can lead to secondary

bacterial infection Pathogenic bacteria are bacteria that can cause disease. This article focuses on the bacteria that are pathogenic to humans. Most species of bacteria are harmless and many are beneficial but others can cause infectious diseases. The number of t ...

if not properly treated. There has never been a single reported case of

anaphylactic shock Anaphylaxis (Greek: 'up' + 'guarding') is a serious, potentially fatal allergic reaction and medical emergency that is rapid in onset and requires immediate medical attention regardless of the use of emergency medication on site. It typically ...

from tarantula venom, and it is very likely that they do not contain the proteins needed to enact the potentially deadly allergic reaction.

In captivity

''Poecilotheria regalis'' is a popular pet among tarantula enthusiasts. Despite its speed and potent venom, this tarantula is often sought for its distinctive appearance. As with most other tarantulas in captivity, ''Poecilotheria regalis'' is fed crickets, grasshoppers, and the adult specimen can be occasionally fed small rodents. A female specimen can live upwards of 12 years, males usually have a shorter lifespan of 3–5 years.

References

External links

''Poecilotheria regalis''
* {{Taxonbar, from=Q1781627 regalis Spiders of the Indian subcontinent Endemic fauna of India Spiders described in 1899