Mexican Redknee Tarantula

Distribution: Mexico

Length: 20 cm

Life Span: Males – 7 Years; Females – 25 Years

Diet: Carnivorous

Social life: Solitary

IUCN red list status: Near threatened



Is a terrestrial tarantula native to the western mountain ranges in Mexico. Mexican red-knee tarantulas live inside burrows in dry areas with little vegetation, usually in scrubland, deserts, dry thorn forests, or tropical deciduous forests. A web carpet extends from the burrow out of the opening. They are predominantly black and dark brown, with light brown leg hairs and bright red orange making up the distinctive 'red knees'. In the wild, Mexican redknee tarantulas mate in the summer, usually in the rainy season. After mating, some females will try to kill and eat the male. Females wrap fertilized eggs in silk and carry the egg-sac between her fangs.

Hunting at night by lying in ambush, the Mexican redknee tarantula attacks insects, small frogs, small lizards, and mice. Their venom has a double purpose, paralyzing the prey as well as beginning digestion. Habitat loss is now the major threat to the Mexican redknee tarantula.