Chaco Golden Knee Tarantula

Grammostola pulchripes

Scientific Name

Chaco Golden Knee Tarantula:  
Grammostola pulchripes

Distribution and Habitat

Geographic Range

The Chaco golden knee tarantula is native to the grasslands of Argentina and Paraguay,

Natural Habitat

The Chaco golden knee tarantula is a ground-living species that burrows where it can. The Chaco golden knee’s natural habitat remains warm throughout the year, with dry spells alternating with periods of heavy rainfall.

Physical Characteristics

  • The Chaco golden knee tarantula can be expected to reach between 20–22 cm (8.5 in).  It bears long light-colored hairs all over its body and gold stripes on its legs, particularly at the “knees”.

Quick Facts

  1. No human is ever known to have died from a tarantula bite! A tarantula bite is no worse than a bee sting in terms of toxicity.

  2. If a tarantula does feel threatened, it uses its hind legs to scrape barbed hairs from its abdomen and flings

Exhibit

Education Department

Conservation Status

Least Concern: The Chaco Golden Knee Tarantula is common or abundant and is likely to survive in the wild.

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Diet

Carnivore

The diet of a tarantula is typically crickets, grass-hoppers, locusts, moths, mealworms, and cockroaches with the occasional small animal.  In a Zoo environment, they are fed one cricket per week.