Fauna
Arachnid · GBIF taxon 2153618

Missouri Tarantula

Aphonopelma hentzi

Also known as Texas Brown Tarantula, Oklahoma Brown Tarantula

Missouri tarantulas spend most of their lives inside deep, silk-lined soil burrows that shield them from harsh weather and predators. During late summer and autumn afternoons, mature males venture out to roam fields and roads in search of females. When threatened, these docile spiders raise their front legs high in warning or scrape microscopic, irritating hairs off their abdomens.

TerrestrialBurrowingNocturnal
Missouri Tarantula reference1 / 6
Licensed reference(c) Edoro, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Edoro · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Crickets
  • Grasshoppers
  • Beetles
Predators
  • Tarantula Hawks
  • Skunks
  • Opossums
ThreatsHabitat loss, road mortality during breeding migrations, pesticide exposure
HabitatsDry prairies, rocky glades, oak woodlands, pastures
Life spanFemales 20–30 years, males 7–10 years
Classification
  1. OrderAraneae
  2. FamilyTheraphosidae
  3. GenusAphonopelma
  4. SpeciesAphonopelma hentzi
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskVery high
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is very high
Delivers a bee-sting-like bite and sheds itchy urticating hairs; observe from a safe distance.
Why it is dangerous
Fangs inject mild venom causing bee-sting-like pain, while kicked abdominal hairs induce severe skin and eye irritation.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognizable by a thick, dark brown body with a leg span reaching up to 13 centimeters.
What to do
Keep a respectful distance and step back immediately if the spider rears its front legs into a threat pose.
Responsible observation
  • Observation: Watch for roaming males crossing countryside roads during warm early autumn evenings.
  • Precaution: Never disturb silk-lined burrow entrances located under rocks or logs.
  • Safety: Avoid touching abdomen bristles, which cause intense itchiness and eye irritation.
Related species
Keep collecting in Fauna

Found in Collections

Ecosystem chain Pro

Desert Sands

Missouri Tarantula is found in this collection. Identify it in Fauna to fill this slot and continue your progress.

Unlock to track progress

Continue in the app
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?

Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.

Checking your Fauna account…