Eight-Species of Theraphosinae


Subfamily:Theraphosinae Most of the tarantulas commonly sold in the pet trade come from this subfamily. They vary widely in temperaments, size, appearance, and habitats. However, all have urticating hair and all come from the Americas. All are terrestrial and most burrow. Use the links below to easily navigate to your chosen genus.

**Select genus below:**
*Acanthoscurria*	*Agnostopelma*	*Ami*	*Aphonopelma*	*Brachypelma*	*Bonnetina*
*Chromatopelma*	*Citharacanthus*	*Clavopelma*	*Cyclosternum*	*Cyriocosmus*	*Cytropholis*
*Euathlus*	*Eupalaestrus*	*Crassicrus*	*Hapalopus*	*Hapalotremus*	*Hemirrhagus*
*Homoeomma*	*Iracema*	*Grammostola*	*Lasiodorides*	*Megaphobema*	*Melloleitaoina*
*Metriopelma*	*Nesipelma*	*Lasiodora*	*Ozopactus*	*Pamphobeteus*	*Paraphysa*
*Phormictopus*	*Plesiopelma*	*Nhandu*	*Reversopelma*	*Schismatothele*	*Schizopelma*
*Sericopelma*	*Sphaerobothria*	*Pseudhapalopus*	*Stichoplastoris*	*Theraphosa*	*Thrixopelma*
*Tmesiphantes*	*Vitalius*	*Stenotarsus*	*Xenesthis*

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Genus:Acanthoscurria
This genus is chiefly South American, particularly Brazil and Argentina. They were erroneously reputed to be one of the few genera in Theraphosinae that have stronger than average venom in the late 1990's, but scientific evidence and authoritative literature regarding their venom disputes such allegations. It is likely a rumor spawned by pet-trade purveyors who stumbled upon research about the properties of these spiders' venom, but misunderstood what they were reading. However, the venom of this genus is quite noteworthy, as it may be used to combat certain harmful bacteria.


Genus	Species	Common Name	Odds n' ends
Acanthoscurria	acuminata, altmanni*, antillensis, atrox, brocklehursti	A. antillensis is sometimes marketed as "Pink Patched Birdeater". A. atrox is often sold as "Matto Grosso Giant Black", or "Brazilian Giant Black". A. brocklehursti is usually marketed as "Giant Black and White."	A. antillensis is indeed from the Lesser Antilles, found on St. Lucia. The rest are chiefly found in Brazil. A. acuminata was described by Schmidt and Tesmoingt in 2000; A. altmanni was described by the same duo in 2003, and is actually the same species as A. chacoana (per Bertani, 2003). A. atrox is sometimes sold as "Brazilian Giant Black", and it is indeed large, dark, and found in southern Brazil. A. brocklehursti (found in Para, Brazil) is somewhat similar to A. geniculata with the white bands on the legs.
Acanthoscurria	chacoana	Bolivian Salmon Pink	A large, somewhat leggy species with reddish hairs on its rear half. May get to 7 or 8". It has a wide range along the south-western border of Brazil, through Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina. Its habitat is variable, from the low, flooding plains of Pantanal Matogrossense (a park in Brazil) to the drier, hilly regions.
Acanthoscurria	chiracantha, convexa cordubensis,cunhae,cursor, ferina, fracta	None	South American. A. cursor was described from two male specimens found near Ceara, Brazil. It has very slight leg banding. A. ferina is found in Amazonas. A. fracta was originally described from a male specimen collected in Para, Brazil. It is portrayed as similar to A. geniculata with narrower white stripes, different palpal organs, etc.
Acanthoscurria	geniculata	Giant Whiteknee, Whitebanded tarantula, Santarem Pink Haired	Stocky Brazillians that can grow to over 7" in legspan. They have white bands on their legs and are somewhat nervous, flicking hairs readily (F.O.P. Cambridge makes the first mention in Western literature regarding urticatious bristles when describing the capture of a female Acanthoscurria geniculata). They have recently become very popular in the pet trade due to their color, size, fast growth rate, and predilection for sitting in the open like members of the Lasiodora genus. It is naturally found near Rio Branco/Santarem.
Acanthoscurria	gomesiana, guaxupe, insubtilis	None	South American. Research of A. gomesiana's venom has revealed that, like some scorpion venom, it may be useful for combating certain bacteria and parasites (Silva, et al, 2000). A. insubtilis is found near San Mateo, Bolivia.
Acanthoscurria	juruenicola	Amazon orange banded	A somewhat defensive terrestrial. Dark overall, with reddish abdominal setae and slight banding at the joints of the legs.
Acanthoscurria	maga, melanotheria, minor,musculosa, natalensis, parahybana,paulensis, pugnax, rhodothele,rondoniae	None	All from South Amercia. A. natalensis is a mouse-brown/grayish spider described from a female collected near Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, described by Chamberlin. A. musculosa may be found in San Mateo, Bolivia.
Acanthoscurria	sternalis	None	Formerly known as A. gigantea, this defensive tarantula changes color from nearly black overall to a rust red before molting. In addition to readily flicking hairs, A. sternalis has been known to spew its feces upon would-be attackers. It ranges from Tucuman, Argentina, to Tatarenda, Bolivia.
Acanthoscurria	suina,tarda, theraphosoides transamazonica, urens, violacea, xinguensis	None	According to Perez-Miles, A. suina commonly breeds in the Spring, with active males observed during cloudy, rainy days in Uruguay (Perez-Miles 45). They also inhabit Formosa state, Argentina, near the protected lands on the south shore of the Pilcomayo river ("protected" is used loosely. Illegal logging takes place there, and sometimes stray cattle from private ranches reduce vegetation in the park).