Lubbock gold tarantula facts for kids

The Aphonopelma hollyi, also known as the Lubbock gold tarantula, is a type of tarantula found in Texas, United States. It was first described in 1995. Its scientific name honors the famous 1950s rock-and-roll singer Buddy Holly. Some scientists believe that spiders called by this name might actually be another common type of tarantula, the Aphonopelma hentzi.

How Scientists Name Spiders

This tarantula was first described in 1995. Scientists based this description on one adult male spider found in Lubbock, Texas. The original spider specimen, which was used for the description, has since been lost.

In 2016, a large study of Aphonopelma tarantulas in the United States suggested that the lost specimen was likely a Aphonopelma hentzi. Because the original specimen is missing, Aphonopelma hollyi is now considered a nomen dubium, which means "a doubtful name." This means scientists are not sure if it's a truly separate species.

Based on how it looks, A. hollyi was thought to be very similar to other Aphonopelma species, including A. hentzi. A study looking at its DNA also showed it was closely related to A. hentzi. This supports the idea that the original specimen might have been an A. hentzi after all.

Where Did the Name Come From?

A spider scientist named Andrew M. Smith described Aphonopelma hollyi as a new species in 1995. He based his description on a single male spider. This spider was found in Lubbock, Texas, in 1981.

Smith named the new species after Buddy Holly. Buddy Holly was a famous musician who was born in Lubbock.

What Does It Look Like?

We know the size of male Lubbock gold tarantulas from the original specimen. A male tarantula's body can be about 43 mm (1.7 in) long. Its main body section, called the carapace, is about 18 mm by 17 mm.

The longest legs of this tarantula are its back pair, which can be 60 mm (2.4 in) long. Its jaws are about 5 mm (0.2 in) long. The tarantula's pedipalps (small leg-like parts near its mouth) have four spines. Its first pair of walking legs has two spines.

When preserved in alcohol, these tarantulas are brown. They have gold or bronze hairs on their carapace. Their legs and abdomen have light reddish-brown hairs. Female tarantulas can weigh more than 10 grams.

Where Does It Live?

Lubbock gold tarantulas are found in Lubbock and Briscoe counties. These areas are in northern Texas. They live in places with mixed grasslands and scrub woodlands. You can find them among grassy hillsides.

How Does It Behave?

Like other Aphonopelma tarantulas, young and adult A. hollyi build burrows. These are like underground homes.

In a study that lasted 14 months, scientists studied A. hollyi in the wild. They used tiny tags inserted into the spiders' bodies. These tags helped scientists find the spiders again. The study found that the tarantulas often left their burrows. How much rain fell each month was the main reason they moved. It is not clear if this moving around is normal for the species every year. It might just be how they react to areas that often flood.

Another study in July 2007 used special tracking devices. It showed that adult tarantulas spent up to 96% of their time in their burrows. When they did come out, they only moved short distances. They usually stayed within 40 cm (16 in) of their burrow before going back inside.