• Key Information

  • Tarantulas

  • Species
    1,040 known species
  • Classification
    Arthropoda > Arachnida > Theraphosidae
  • Conservation Status
    Various
  • Weight
    6 oz
  • Length
    Up to 12 in
  • Lifespan
    Up to 40 years
  • Habitat
    A variety of habitats
  • Learning Point
  • The Tarantula has become known as a large and fearsome spider, but not all tarantulas are large, and unlike other types of spider, their venom is not especially dangerous to humans.
  • Project
  • Draw a picture of a tarantula in its burrow.
  • Location
  • Places
    North & South America, Southern Europe, Africa, South and Eastern Asia, Australasia
  • Fun Facts
  • Tarnatulas live a lot longer than other spiders, in some cases they can live several decades in captivity.
  • They have been known to survive for up to two years with just water.
  • Certain wasps specialise in hunting tarantulas, using the tarantula as a living nest for their offspring.
  • The name "tarantula" comes from the town of Taranto in Italy, where a large wolf spider species was known to live, but it isn't what we call a tarantula today.