Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula
Grammostola rosea
Tarantulas are primitive spiders that ambush and pounce on live prey
instead of trapping victims with sticky silken webs, as do many modern
spiders. Many tarantulas do use silk, however, as trip-lines to detect
prey movement, to line their burrows or retreats, and protectively pad
and cover their egg cases.
Fact file:
Lifespan: Female - more than 20 yrs, Male - 1 yr
Ecological Role: Predator
Habitat: Tropical forest
Prey: Insects, small lizards and rodents
Current Range: Chile