Fun Curly Hair Tarantula Facts For Kids

Curly hair tarantulas (Tliltocatl albopilosus) are a large spider species that are native to the South American regions of Nicaragua, Honduras, and Costa Rica. The Honduran curly hair tarantula is also known as Brachypelma albopilosum, and falls under the same species as the Costa Rican and Nicaraguan curly hair.

These large spiders have hairs all over their body which is why they are named curly hair. They are found in the wild near rivers and cleared rain forests. They are 4-6 in (10.2-15.2 cm) in length and have a rigid body that becomes more rigid each time they molt. They have been kept as pets for a long time now and are a great addition to any hobbyist who is interested in the spider world.

If you liked these facts about curly hair tarantulas, then you'll surely like these facts about tarantula spider and goliath birdeater too!

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What type of animal is a curly hair tarantula?

A curly hair tarantula is a terrestrial burrowing spider species that has curly hairs that cover its body and is a large tarantula species native to Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. These burrowing species are often found in the pet trade and can be a great pet for exotic pet lovers.

What class of animal does a curly hair tarantula belong to?

The curly hair tarantula (Tliltocatl albopilosus) and the Honduran curly hair tarantula are terrestrial spiders (Brachypelma albopilosum) that belong to the Arachnid class of animals.

Arachnid adults can be distinguished by their eight legs. However, the pair of front legs in some species of arachnids serve the function of sensation, while in other species, extra pairs of legs are formed by different appendages that have grown large enough.

How many curly hair tarantulas are there in the world?

There is not enough sufficient data to pinpoint the exact population of the curly hair tarantula in their range of habitats.

Where does a curly hair tarantula live?

Curly hair tarantula spiders are native to the South American regions of Nicaragua, Honduras, and Costa Rica. They are found in the wild and have been bred in captivity to increase their population.

What is a curly hair tarantula's habitat?

Curly hair tarantulas are often found in a rainforest habitat and like to burrow and live in and around large trees, cleared rainforests, and near rivers as they are a terrestrial spider species.

Who do curly hair tarantulas live with?

Curly hair tarantulas are a solitary spider species and prefer to live alone. They do come together during the mating period and if females are receptive, mating occurs, and if not, then females will try to kill and eat the male.

How long does a curly hair tarantula live?

Curly hair tarantulas have a life span that is different for both sexes. Males live for five to 10 years and females live 20 to 25 years in captivity. The lifespan of this docile spider is four years for males and eight to 10 years for females in the wild.  

How do they reproduce?

Female curly hairs adults reach sexual maturity when they are three to four years old and males mature at a young age compared to females.

During the mating procedure, the male will pass a packet of sperm to the female through his legs or pedipalps. In turn, the fertilized egg contains 500 to 1000 eggs which the female will lay in a burrow. The eggs have an incubation period of seven to eight weeks before the spiderlings emerge from the eggs.

What is their conservation status?

Currently, the IUCN Red List has Not Evaluated the curly hair tarantula on their list of animals. However, they are listed on the CITES Appendix II as they have fallen prey to habitat loss. They were captured in large numbers for the pet trade but now with prohibition and laws, they can only be traded in quotas with a trade permit across the world. Adult and young tarantulas being sold as pets now have been bred in captivity and not taken from the wild.

What do curly hair tarantulas look like?

Curly hair tarantulas in their immature form have a dark brown color on their body with a copper tint on the carapace. Adults have copper on the carapace but with brown-black hairs that cover their body, with golden-red hairs on their abdomen and legs. Males are usually lighter in shade than females. Since they have an exoskeleton, they are often found molting their old skin.

Curly hairs have eight legs with two appendages that resemble a fang and have two chelicerae near their mouth.

These spiders are not poisonous but do have venom that they release in their bites when threatened by predators or humans. In case of being threatened, they also kick their urticating hairs in their webbing. These urticating hairs can cause blisters and even itching if they come into contact with human skin.

How cute are they?

These docile animals with their hairy glory are one of the cutest spider species. They cannot recognize their owner, but they are great to hold and will not bite unless they are handled roughly.

How do they communicate?

Curly hair tarantulas, like all other spider species, communicate using vibrations which are also known as seismic communication. They communicate during the courting or mating procedure, when warning rivals or predators, or when they attempt to catch prey by mimicking the vibrations of insects caught in their webs.

They have sensitive hairs on their legs that they use to detect vibration of prey or predators and have simple eyes they use to see which detects light variations, helping them to transverse through their terrains.

How big is a curly hair tarantula?

Curly hair tarantulas are 4-6 in (10.1-15.2 cm) long including their leg span and usually require a medium-sized enclosure for a proper living habitat.

How fast can a curly hair tarantula run?

Exact data cannot be found of how fast these tarantulas can move. It is however known that they are agile when it comes to invading predators.

How much does a curly hair tarantula weigh?

No data can be found on how much these spiders weigh.

What are their male and female names of the species?

No specific name has been assigned to either sex of this species of spiders.

What would you call a baby curly hair tarantula?

A baby curly hair tarantula is called a spiderling. Spiderlings are tiny and will stay in the burrow and will develop in a couple of weeks. After they are through with their first molting, they will separate from each other and leave the cover of their burrow in search of food like crickets and roaches.

What do they eat?

These tarantulas eat crickets, roaches, and other smaller insects in the wild. In captivity, they can be provided with the same through feeders and should be given ample water in a water dish in their enclosure.

Are they poisonous?

Curly hair tarantulas are not poisonous but they are are venomous. Their venom is similar to that of a bee and it will trigger allergic reactions like swelling and itching of the skin. When they feel threatened, they kick hairs off their abdomen with their hind leg and this hair will also cause swelling and itching.

Would they make a good pet?

Curly hair tarantulas (Brachypelma albopilosum/Tliltocatl albopilosus) are a calm and docile spider species and are great as a starter exotic pet. They are easy to care for with their hardy build and are easy to hold despite their hairs that can cause itching.  Keep in mind that they do not remember their owners so it can be an issue if you startle them.

Here are some tips to take care of your curly hair:

1) A 5-10 gal (23-45.5 l) tank should be ample for them with proper heating and a stable temperature for them should be around 75- 85 F (24-29.4 C). Bad heating may cause them to become restless. Create a habitat that mirrors their natural one and place cork bark, tree branches, and dirt at the base of the enclosure.

2) Since curly hairs are nocturnal, make sure you feed them at proper time intervals and make sure not to over-feed as it might cause health issues and an unbalanced diet. Make sure you clean their enclosure every 24 hours and remove excess feeders from the enclosure as dirty feeders might attract bugs and insects and may cause the enclosure to become dirty.

3) Provide them an ample amount of fresh water in a small dish or bottle cap as water is an essential part of their diet.

4) Make sure not to feed your tarantula at least three days after it has molted, as skin that is not hardened enough might be easily damaged by live prey like crickets.

5) Curly hair tarantulas need a stable humidity level and it should be around 65-70% which you can measure with a hygrometer. Mist the enclosure with clean water if you need to raise the humidity level. A proper humidity level is necessary for your tarantula to thrive so always keep the enclosure at a suitable humidity level.

Did you know...

Curly hair tarantulas have a bronze sheen that is visible up close. This bronze sheen is the result of their golden-brown bristle on their hind legs.

They are solitary and will not tolerate even another curly hair in their enclosure, hence making them a sole pet in a large enclosure.

They were named Brachypelma albopilosa in the '80s by Carlos Valerio but it was later changed to Brachypelma albopilosum since the genus is neuter.

They show their fangs when they feel threatened and these fangs can produce puncture wounds if you are bit by one.

They are agile in nature and can move fast when they sense danger.

Are curly hair tarantulas good for beginners?

Yes, curly hair tarantulas are good for beginners as they are easy to care for and require little to no effort to keep them safe and secure in an enclosure with a good base of cork bark and peat moss.

How long can a curly hair tarantula go without eating?

Some species of tarantulas can survive just on water and can go as long as two years without eating anything! Since curly hair tarantulas, like most spider species, can regulate their metabolism, they only need moisture to survive.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other arthropods including mantis shrimp, or crane fly.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our curly hair tarantula coloring pages.

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