Tarantula
unrelated species of European wolf spider. The name was borrowed to apply to the Theraphosids when
Europeans explored areas where these large spiders were common. In Africa, Theraphosids are
frequently referred to as "baboon spiders". Asian forms are known as "earth tigers" or "bird eating
spiders". Australians refer to their species as "barking spiders", "whistling spiders", or "bird spiders".
People in other parts of the world also apply the general name "mygales" to Theraphosid spiders.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Suborder: Mygalomorphae
Superfamily: Theraphosoidea
Family: Theraphosidae
Thorell, 1870
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