Tarantula Spider
(burrow)

Aphonopelma
Therophosidae

This tarantula's burrow was photographed using a Nikon CoolPix 990 on 25 Aug. 2002 n. Carefree, Arizona at an elev. of 1020 m in chaparal habitat.

Notice that there is fresh spider silk within the burrow opening. The collection of loose thatch around the burrow entrance to which silk strands are attached likely helps in sending vibration signals from potential prey and predators down to the below-ground spider. The spider will emerge to capture a cricket, etc. that passes near the burrow entrance.

Tarantula Spider
(male)

Therophosidae

This tarantula male was photographed in Haunted Canyon in Gila County, Arizona. Haunted Canyon is at the eastern end of the Superstition Mountains at an elevation of 1300 m.. Oct. 26, 2002 with a CoolPix 990.

Upon maturity, males leave the safety of their burrows in search of females. Male spiders feed little and soon waste away and die -- if they don't fall victim to an insectivorous predator such as a skunk or an owl first. The spider holds it's abdomen up because it is covered with irritating hairs ... a pretty good defense against sensitive tongues and noses. There are dozens of tarantula species, the mature male above is 20 mm long. Held in front of the spider's head are two pedipalps with enlarged tips -- this characteristic identifies this as a male spider. The pedipalps are used for copulation.