For all its name, its venom poses little danger to people, and the old belief that its bite caused a frenzied dance (tarantism) has no scientific basis today.
From European Wolf Spider
It gave its name to tarantism: in southern Italy its bite was believed to bring on a nervous fit that could only be cured by dancing for hours, which is where the tarantella comes from.
From European Wolf Spider
It is from this spider that the name tarantula later passed to the large hairy American spiders, to which it is not related.
From European Wolf Spider
Unlike most spiders, the female rarely eats the male after mating.
From Goliath Birdeater Tarantula
When threatened it rubs its abdomen with its hind legs to loose highly irritating urticating hairs.
From Goliath Birdeater Tarantula
It is the heaviest tarantula in the world, at up to 175 grams.
From Goliath Birdeater Tarantula
One of the commonest tarantulas in vivaria, for its calm temperament.
From Chilean Rose Tarantula
Females can live more than twenty years, while males barely exceed five: they die soon after reaching sexual maturity.
From Chilean Rose Tarantula

Ecosystems