Fauna
Arachnid

Chilean Rose

Grammostola rosea

Also known as Rose Hair Tarantula, Chilean Fire Tarantula, Chilean Red-Haired Tarantula

Chilean rose tarantulas spend their days lurking in silk-lined burrows beneath rocks and desert shrubs, emerging during cool evening hours to ambush passing prey. Females can survive for over twenty years in arid habitats, relying on specialized sensory hairs on their legs to detect subtle ground vibrations. When threatened, these calm ground-dwellers brush barbed urticating setae off their abdomens toward potential predators.

ArachnidDesertBurrowing
Chilean Rose reference1 / 7
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—observations
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyCrickets, Grasshoppers, Beetles
Predators
  • Tarantula hawk wasps
  • Hawks
  • Small mammals
ThreatsOvercollection for the pet trade and habitat loss
HabitatsDeserts, scrublands, and arid grasslands
Life spanFemales 15–20+ years; males 4–5 years
Classification
  1. OrderAraneae
  2. FamilyTheraphosidae
  3. GenusGrammostola
  4. SpeciesGrammostola rosea
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 mild bite and sheds skin-irritating hairs when provoked; observe calmly from a respectful distance.
Why it is dangerous
Injects mild venom via fangs and kicks microscopic urticating hairs from its abdomen that cause sharp itching and skin inflammation.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognized by its stocky build, dense beige hair coat, and distinctive pinkish hue on the carapace.
What to do
Maintain a respectful distance and avoid harassing individuals or touching eyes after proximity to an agitated spider.
What to notice
Identified in native Chilean terrain by silk-ringed burrow entrances sheltered under desert rocks or scrub.
Support conservation
Observe wild spiders without excavating burrows, and support conservation by never capturing wild specimens.
Responsible observation
  • Observation: Watch quietly without making sudden movements or blowing air onto the spider.
  • Avoid Handling: Refrain from touching wild individuals to prevent triggering defensive hair release.
  • Burrow Protection: Keep rocks and structural shelter intact when observing in native habitats.
Related species
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