Fauna
Arachnid

Brazilian Salmon Pink Tarantula

Lasiodora parahybana

Also known as Brazilian Salmon Pink Bird-eating Tarantula, Salmon Pink Bird-eater, Salmon Pink Tarantula

Brazilian salmon pink tarantulas stalk the forest floor of eastern Brazil, using specialized vibration-sensitive slit sensilla on their legs to detect passing quarry in complete darkness. When threatened, these massive arachnids rear back to display substantial fangs and vigorously flick clouds of barbed urticating hairs from their abdomen. Though fast-growing and voracious, they spend much of their daylight hours concealed beneath fallen logs, leaf litter, or abandoned burrows.

NocturnalBurrowingAmbush Predator
Brazilian Salmon Pink Tarantula reference1 / 7
(c) Richard Adams, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
—countries
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyLarge insects, Tree frogs, Small rodents
Predators
  • Tarantula hawk wasp
  • South American coati
  • Large terrestrial snakes
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation and illegal capture for the exotic pet trade
HabitatsTropical rainforest, secondary forest floor, and Atlantic dry forest margins
Life span12–15 years for females, 3–5 years for males
Classification
  1. OrderAraneae
  2. FamilyTheraphosidae
  3. GenusLasiodora
  4. SpeciesLasiodora parahybana
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
Flicks irritating abdominal hairs when stressed and delivers a painful defensive bite; observe from a distance.
Why it is dangerous
Barbed urticating setae kicked from the abdomen embed in skin and eyes, causing intense itching, swelling, and severe corneal damage.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognizable by its immense black body accented with long, shaggy salmon-pink hairs across the abdomen and legs.
What to do
Back away immediately if the spider raises its front legs or rubs its hind legs against its abdomen to release bristles.
Responsible observation
  • Safe Distance: Keep at least two meters back to avoid airborne urticating hairs.
  • Ground Scanning: Watch the forest floor near fallen timber at twilight for active foragers.
  • No Handling: Never touch or corral an individual, as kicked hairs cause severe dermatitis.
Related species
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