Aphonopelma chalcodes

Aphonopelma chalcodes, commonly known as the western desert tarantula, Arizona blond tarantula or Mexican blond tarantula is a species of spider belonging to the family Theraphosidae. It has a limited distribution in the deserts of Arizona and adjacent parts of Mexico but can be very common within this range. The common name "blond tarantula" refers to the carapace, which is densely covered in pale hairs, and contrasts strongly with the all-dark legs and abdomen. The female body length is up to 56 mm, males only reaching 44 mm.

Aphonopelma chalcodes
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Mygalomorphae
Family: Theraphosidae
Genus: Aphonopelma
Species:
A. chalcodes
Binomial name
Aphonopelma chalcodes
Synonyms[1]
  • Aphonopelma apacheum Chamberlin, 1940
  • Aphonopelma rothi Smith, 1995
  • Aphonopelma schmidti Smith, 1995
  • Aphonopelma stahnkei Smith, 1995

Description

This 3 to 5 in (8 to 13 cm) large bodied, burrowing spider is commonly seen during the summer rainy season in southwestern deserts. The female is usually a uniform tan color. The male has black legs, a copper-colored cephalothorax and a reddish abdomen. Their burrows can be as large as 1 to 2 in (25 to 51 mm) in diameter, with some strands of silk across the opening. They are popular among beginner tarantula keepers due to their long lifespan (5–10 years for males, up to 30 years for females) and docile nature[2][3][4]

Distribution and habitat

The Arizona blond tarantula is typically found in saguaro-dominated plant communities. There are many similar species throughout the desert southwest, so they are difficult to differentiate.

References

Preston-Mafham, Ken (1998). Spiders: Compact Study Guide and Identifier. Angus Books. ISBN 978-1-904594-93-2.

  1. Hamilton, C.A.; Hendrixson, B.E. & Bond, J.E. (2016), "Taxonomic revision of the tarantula genus Aphonopelma Pocock, 1901 (Araneae, Mygalomorphae, Theraphosidae) within the United States", ZooKeys, 560: 1–340, doi:10.3897/zookeys.560.6264, PMC 4768370, PMID 27006611
  2. https://www.paintedreptile.com/desert-blonde-tarantula-care-sheet
  3. Stephensen, Jimmy. "Aphonopelma Chalodes". jspestcontrol.com. Archived from the original on 2013-08-20. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
  4. "Beginner's Guide To The Arizona Blonde (Aphonopelma Chalcodes) Tarantula". Tarantula Heaven. 2019-01-12. Retrieved 2019-09-15.
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