Mexican Redknee Tarantula
Brachypelma hamorii
Theraphosidae (Tarantulas), Order Araneae. Key family characteristics include heavy-bodied, hairy spiders with two pairs of book lungs and vertically moving (orthognath) fangs.
Physical Description
Robust, heavy-set body covered in dense setae (hairs). The cephalothorax is dark with a lighter beige or pinkish border, and the abdomen is dark and covered in reddish-brown urticating hairs. It displays typical sexual dimorphism with females having bulkier abdomens and longer lifespans.
Size Estimate
Body length is approximately 5 to 7 centimeters (2 to 2.75 inches), with a total leg span reaching up to 12 to 15 centimeters (4.7 to 6 inches). This specimen appears to be a healthy juvenile or sub-adult.
Coloration & Markings
Dark black or brown base coloration with distinctive, vibrant orange-red banding on the distal segments (patellae and tibiae) of the legs, giving them their characteristic 'redknee' appearance.
Web Type
Does not build traditional capture webs. They spin silk primarily to line their burrows, create molt mats, or lay down a sensory trip-wire mat near the entrance of their shelter.
Eye Arrangement
Eight small eyes clustered closely together on a small raised tubercle (ocular prominence) at the front center of the cephalothorax.
Leg Characteristics
Long, thick legs covered in dense setae, featuring distinct orange-red banding at the joints. Equipped with two claws and claw tufts, allowing them to grip vertical glass surfaces, though heavy adults rarely climb.
Venom & Safety Information
Venom Information
Contains mild neurotoxic venom delivered via large chelicerae. The potency is relatively low compared to medically significant spiders, typically causing localized pain and swelling akin to a bee sting.
Medical Significance
Low medical significance for humans. Bites are rare and mostly mechanical (due to large fangs), but the primary concern is mechanical irritation or allergic reaction caused by the airborne urticating hairs contacting skin or eyes.
Safety Recommendations
Handle gently and infrequently to avoid stressing the spider. Avoid touching the abdomen to prevent triggering hair-kicking. Wash hands thoroughly after handling enclosure substrate or decorations.
Habitat & Behavior
Habitat & Range
Native to the Pacific slopes of the Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre del Sur mountain ranges in Mexico. Prefers dry scrub forests, thorn forests, and arid environments, where it constructs deep burrows under rocks or cacti.
Behavior & Temperament
Generally docile, calm, and slow-moving, making it a popular pet. When threatened, its primary defense mechanism is to kick off urticating hairs from its abdomen using its hind legs rather than biting.
Diet & Prey
Carnivorous ambush predator. Feeds primarily on large insects such as crickets, roaches, and occasionally small vertebrates like pinkies or lizards, subduing them with venom and digestive enzymes.
Seasonal Activity
Active year-round in captivity; in the wild, activity peaks during the rainy season when humidity rises and mating flights or wanderings occur.
Description
The Mexican Redknee Tarantula is one of the most iconic and recognizable tarantulas in the world, celebrated for its striking orange-red leg bands and gentle disposition. As a terrestrial burrower, it spends much of its time waiting near its subterranean retreat for unsuspecting prey. Highly valued in the pet trade, captive-bred specimens serve as ambassador species for arachnid conservation.
Key Features
Distinguished by the vibrant orange-red patches on the patellae of the black legs, a contrasting light border around the carapace, and the presence of reddish urticating hairs on a dark abdomen.
Similar Species
Brachypelma smithi (Mexican Red-knee) and Brachypelma boehmei (Mexican Fireleg). They can be distinguished by subtle differences in carapace patterns and the exact shade and extent of the red/orange leg markings.
Life Cycle
Females lay 100 to 500 eggs in a silken egg sac. Spiderlings hatch and disperse after several weeks. They undergo numerous molts as they grow very slowly. Females can live up to 25 to 30 years, while males typically live 5 to 10 years after reaching maturity.
Ecological Importance
Acts as an apex invertebrate predator in its native scrubland ecosystem, regulating insect populations and serving as prey for larger mammals, reptiles, and avians.
Conservation Status
Listed under CITES Appendix II. Wild populations face threats from habitat destruction for agriculture and illegal pet trade capture, though captive breeding programs are well-established.
Interesting Facts
Due to their popularity in Hollywood films and the pet trade, they were heavily overcollected in the wild, leading to strict CITES Appendix II protections. They can survive months without food if they have access to fresh water.
Photography Tips
Use natural lighting or diffused flash to highlight the rich orange leg bands without startling the spider. Photograph from a low angle at a safe distance to capture body proportions and brilliant colors clearly.
User Notes
My aunts pet
Identified: 2026-07-30T15:33:51.602513