Tarantula

spiders · creepy-crawly · big and hairy

Big and hairy. Tarantulas are large, often fuzzy spiders that belong to a family called Theraphosidae.

So many kinds. Scientists have identified more than a thousand species of tarantulas, grouped into almost 200 genera.

Popular pets. Some of the more common tarantula species have become popular in the exotic pet trade.

Itchy hairs. Many New World tarantulas have special hairs called urticating hairs that can irritate skin and even harm eyes.