Grammostola pulchripes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grammostola pulchripes |
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Grammostola aureostriata Schmidt & Bulmer, 2001 |
The Chaco golden knee (Grammostola pulchripes) is a large type of tarantula. It used to be called Grammostola aureostriata. This spider can grow to be about 20 to 22 centimeters (8.5 inches) across.
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What's in a Name?
The old name, aureostriata, comes from Latin words. Aureus means "golden" and striatus means "striped." This describes the spider's look.
The current name, pulchripes, also comes from Latin. Pulchra means "beautiful" and pes means "foot." So, its name means "beautiful foot."
About the Chaco Golden Knee Tarantula
The Chaco golden knee is a very large tarantula. Its legs can spread out about 17.8 to 20.3 centimeters (7 to 8 inches). It is a terrestrial tarantula, which means it lives on the ground. This makes its body quite heavy.
Mature male tarantulas have longer legs and smaller bodies than females. They also have special hooks on their legs. These hooks help them hold back the female's fangs during mating.
Appearance and Senses
This tarantula has many bright colors. It has yellowish stripes on its legs and dark black "femurs" (upper leg parts). Its body is covered in pink hairs.
Like other Grammostola spiders, the Chaco golden knee has very big fangs. The top part of its body, called the carapace, is raised. This makes space for its large fangs, which are called chelicerae.
These spiders do not see very well. Instead, they use tiny hairs all over their bodies, called setae. These hairs help them feel vibrations from the ground and air. They also pick up chemical signals, which is like having a sense of smell.
Where They Live in Nature
Chaco golden knee tarantulas live in the grasslands of Argentina and Paraguay. They are used to a warm climate. This area has both dry and rainy seasons.
Keeping Them as Pets
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A Chaco golden knee being handled
The Chaco golden knee is a very calm and gentle tarantula. Its striking looks and large size make it a popular pet. In captivity, it often sits out in the open. It also likes to move the dirt around in its enclosure, especially when it is young.
Female Chaco golden knees can live for more than twenty years. Males, however, usually only live for about five or six years.
When these spiders first came into the pet trade, people thought they were a type of Pink zebra beauty. But the Chaco golden knee is much bigger. You can tell them apart by their size and colors.
Gallery
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A young spider eating a Blaptica dubia roach
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A grown male Chaco golden knee
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A young female in a pet home
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A young female Chaco golden knee
See also
In Spanish: Tarántula para niños
