Joshua Tree National Park - Tarantula (U.S. National Park Service)

Description	body 2 to 3 inches; 4 inch legs; color is brown to black; covered with thousands of fine hairs. Besides its eight legs, the basic sections of a tarantula’s body are its cephalothorax (a fused head and thorax, or chest) and its abdomen. It also has eight closely set eyes.

Food	insects like beetles and grasshoppers, small lizards and mice; Tarantulas chase down their prey rather than snaring it in webs. Sensitive hairs on the spider’s body allow it to detect subtle movements in its immediate environment and “home in” on a victim.

Life History	mates in fall; litter size is 500 to 1000; females may live 20 years or more; males may be eaten during mating; solitary, living one to a burrow

Habitat	Joshua tree forest; creosote scrub

Activity	When cornered by a predator, the tarantula will rub its hind legs over its abdomen, brushing hairs into its enemy’s eyes.

Conservation Status	common

Where to look	Oasis of Mara, Split Rock, Wilson Canyon

Notes	These shy giants are reluctant to attack humans and their venom is no worse than a bee sting.