Fauna
Arachnid

Desert Tarantula

Aphonopelma iodius

The 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
Desert Tarantula reference1 / 7
(c) Chris A. Hamilton, Brent E. Hendrixson, Jason E. Bond, some rights reserved (CC BY) · 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 & preyCrickets, 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
Classification
  1. OrderAraneae
  2. FamilyTheraphosidae
  3. GenusAphonopelma
  4. SpeciesAphonopelma iodius
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. 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.
Related species

Related species have not been added yet.

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