Tarantula
Tarantulas are found in tropical and desert regions around the world.
Most tarantulas are harmless to humans, and some species are popular in the exotic pet trade. Some
species, while not known to have ever produced human fatalities, have venom that can produce extreme
discomfort over a period of several days.
The name tarantula comes from the town of Taranto in Southern Italy and was originally used for an
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
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