Invertebrates
Pinktoe Tarantula
Avicularia avicularia · also called common pinktoe tarantula
Gripping bark with distinctly pink-tipped feet, a pinktoe tarantula rests inside a tube-shaped silk retreat woven among the leaves high above the rainforest floor, one of the more tree-dwelling and even-tempered tarantula species kept by enthusiasts.
Overview
The pinktoe tarantula, Avicularia avicularia, is native to tropical rainforest across South America and parts of the Caribbean. Its distinctive pink leg tips, almost entirely arboreal lifestyle, and relatively docile temperament make it one of the more approachable and visually recognizable tarantula species found anywhere.
A life spent in the trees
Rather than digging into the ground like many of its tarantula relatives, the pinktoe tarantula builds a woven silk retreat among branches and leaves, spending nearly its entire life well above the forest floor.
Status
Not Evaluated for conservation status, found across suitable rainforest habitat throughout South America and parts of the Caribbean.
Pinktoe Tarantula: common questions
Why is it called the pinktoe tarantula?
It has distinctly pink-coloured tips on the ends of its legs, a feature that gives the species its common name and makes it easy to distinguish from many other tarantula species.
Does the pinktoe tarantula live in a burrow?
No, unlike many ground-dwelling tarantula species, it spends nearly all its life in trees, building a tube-shaped silk retreat among leaves or bark crevices rather than digging a burrow.
Is the pinktoe tarantula dangerous to handle?
It is considered one of the calmer, more docile tarantula species, though it can still deliver a defensive bite if provoked or mishandled.
Where is the pinktoe tarantula found?
It is native to tropical rainforest across a wide range spanning South America and parts of the Caribbean.