Arachnid · GBIF taxon 2153626
Desert Tarantula
Aphonopelma iodiusThe Desert Tarantula is a large, slow-growing spider of arid western North America with a tan carapace and dark hairy legs. Females remain near silk-lined burrows, while mature males wander across open ground during the breeding season.
Burrowing SpiderDesert ArthropodLong-lived Female
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Crickets
- Beetles
- Grasshoppers
Predators
- Tarantula hawk wasps
- Owls
- Coyotes
ThreatsDevelopment, road mortality, collecting, pesticides, burrow destruction, and prolonged drought
HabitatsDesert scrub, dry grassland, rocky foothills, washes, and burrows in stable soil
Life spanFemales may exceed 20 years; adult males usually live only a few years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyTheraphosidae
- SpeciesAphonopelma iodius
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Defensive hairs irritate skin and eyes; bites are possible if a spider is restrained.
- Why it is dangerous
- A threatened tarantula may release irritating abdominal hairs or deliver a defensive bite.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- A large hairy spider with a pale tan carapace, darker legs, and a ground-dwelling habit.
- What to do
- Do not touch or provoke it; avoid airborne hairs and rinse exposed eyes with clean water.
Responsible observation
- Distance: Let wandering spiders cross without surrounding or touching them.
- Burrow: Never probe, excavate, or block a silk-lined retreat.
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