Aphonopelma iodius facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aphonopelma iodius |
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Aphonopelma iodius is a type of spider known as a tarantula. It belongs to the family Theraphosidae. You can find these tarantulas in the United States. They live in states like California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah.
In 1997, scientists decided that several other tarantula species were actually the same as A. iodius. These included A. angusi, A. melanium, and A. nevadanum. Another tarantula, Aphonopelma smithii, was also later found to be the same species. A. iodius is very common in the Mojave Desert. This desert is located west of the Colorado River.
How Scientists Name Spiders
Scientists group living things based on how they are related. This is called taxonomy. The way Aphonopelma tarantulas are grouped has changed many times. This is because scientists learn new things about them.
For example, spiders once called A. melanium, A. angusi, and A. nevadanum are now all known as A. iodius. Scientists found they were the same species. In the same study, two new tarantula species were identified. These were A. joshua and A. mojave. They look different and live in different places.
Aphonopelma smithi was also known as the Bay Area blond tarantula. Many thought it only lived in Northern California. It was found in California interior chaparral and woodlands areas. However, a study in 2016 looked closely at many Aphonopelma species. They found that A. smithi was too similar to A. iodius. So, scientists now consider A. smithi to be the same as A. iodius.
Where They Live in Nature
A. iodius tarantulas live in desert areas. You can find their homes in California, Nevada, and Utah. They dig burrows under the ground. These burrows are often lined with silk.
They often block the entrance to their burrows. They use silk or a mix of silk and dirt. This helps protect them from the heat. It also keeps predators away.
Keeping Them as Pets
People sometimes keep A. iodius as pets. In the pet world, these tarantulas have many different names. Some call them the Great Basin blonde. Others know them as the Fresno County blonde or desert tarantula. They are also called the Salt Lake City brown or northern blonde.
These tarantulas are not as common in the pet trade as some other colorful species. But you can still buy them. They might cost a bit more than other tarantulas.
See also
In Spanish: Aphonopelma iodius para niños
