Mary Allen
In this portrait, you get to know the colorful tarantula better. You will find out where it occurs on earth and what its natural habitat looks like. You can also find out what the cyan tarantula eats and how it defends itself. Read on and discover the exciting animal.
It has a green shimmering body, orange-haired abdomen, and bright blue hair on her eight legs. Their particularly striking external appearance makes the Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens a unique tarantula.
Chromatopelma Cyaneopubescens
- Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens
- The Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens belongs to the tarantulas (Theraphosidae), which in turn form a subspecies of the web spiders (Araneae).
- Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens is at home on the Venezuelan Paraguaná peninsula.
- The Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens prefers a warm climate and dry soil.
- You can find them mainly in these areas: in steppe landscapes and savanna forests
- So far the Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens is the only tarantula of its kind.
- A female Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens lives up to 10 years old, the males die much earlier.
The Cyan Venezuela Tarantula is the Only One of Its Kind
The Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens is also known as the cyan tarantula or cyan Venezuela tarantula. The last name indicates where the cyan tarantula is originally at home: in Venezuela, a state in South America.
Like all living things, the Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens is classified according to a certain system. It is one of the most famous spider species in the world, the tarantulas. The exact systematic classification looks like this, read from top to bottom:
- Arachnids (class)
- Weaving spiders (order)
- Tarantulas (suborder)
- Tarantulas (family)
- Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens (species)
In addition to the cyan tarantula from Venezuela, there are also many other tarantulas. The entire tarantula family comprises about 12 subfamilies with over 100 genera and almost 1000 species. Like the cyan tarantula, most of them are found in South America. Tarantulas still live in these countries around the world:
- Australia
- Southeast Asia
- India
- Africa
- Europe
The cyan tarantula from Venezuela has already been assigned to some species of tarantulas. In contrast to its conspecifics, the Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens does not dig itself into the ground. Therefore, it lacks certain anatomical features that occur in ground-dwelling spiders. Therefore the Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens is considered to be monotypic and is, therefore, the only representative of its kind.
The Name Chromatopelma Cyaneopubescens Describes the Appearance of the Tarantula
The extraordinary name of the cyan tarantula actually has a special meaning. It is made up of a total of four Greek and Latin terms. Accordingly, the Greek words “chroma” and “cyaneos” stand for “color” and for “dark blue”. Both “pelma” and “pubescens” are of Latin origin and mean “sole” and “hairy”.
However, these terms have something in common: They all describe the appearance of the special eight-legged creatures. In addition to the greenish center of the body and the orange-red rear, the hairy spider legs are particularly noticeable. These have a strong dark blue color and have a metallic sheen in the light. The name of the Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens tarantula says it all here in the truest sense of the word.
Cyan Tarantula Physique and Growth
Females not only get older than males, but they are also significantly larger and bulkier on average. Females reach a size of 65 to 70 mm, while males only 35 to 40 mm. In order for a young Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens to grow at all, it must molt regularly.
In addition, the cyan-blue Venezuela tarantula withdraws to a quiet place. There it gradually sheds its old skin and in this way renews its exoskeleton. Executive organs as well as mouthparts or even lost legs can grow back. The entire process often takes a whole day. Adult females usually shed their skin once a year, while males do not shed their skin at all after they have reached sexual maturity.
If the Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens lies on its back in the terrarium, many beginners to spider owners get a shock at first. Most of the time, however, there is nothing to worry about – it is likely that the spider is still alive and is just shedding its skin. Even after molting, the cyan tarantula remains quiet for a few days. It needs this time so that her new chitin shell can harden completely.
The Habitat of the Venezuelan Chromatopelma Cyaneopubescens
In its home country Venezuela, the cyan tarantula lives mainly on trees. In addition to knotholes, she also chooses hollowed-out roots or cacti for habitation. The surrounding area consists mainly of sparse vegetation with low shrubs and plants. In addition, it is very hot during the day at over 30 degrees and there is little rain, so the ground is mostly dry.
The Venezuelan tarantula copes well with these living conditions. However, the habitat of the Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens is threatened by deforestation and slash and burn. Therefore, the Venezuelan government has declared certain regions to be protected areas. These reserves serve to preserve the natural occurrence of the cyan blue Venezuela tarantula.
Although its habitat is protected in Venezuela, the Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens is not critically endangered. Therefore, the dark blue tarantula does not enjoy any special protection status. This means that it is not on the red list of endangered species. In addition to the measures taken by the Venezuelan government, spider breeders are ensuring the continued existence of the cyan-blue Venezuela tarantula worldwide.
Diet and Predators of the Cyan Venezuela Tarantula
The Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens can climb pretty well and hunt just as nimbly. To do this, she moves skillfully in the immediate vicinity of her cave. She makes traps from her web and then waits in hiding for her prey. If a prey touches the spider threads, the cyan tarantula will snap out and bite. In doing so, she secretes a deadly poison that corrodes her victim internally. The Venezuelan tarantula then sucks the resulting liquid out of the foreign body.
This is what the menu of Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens looks like:
- ground invertebrates
- beetles and other insects
- smaller mammals
- rarely even birds
- partly also reptiles
Almost every living thing also has natural enemies in the wild. However, the danger of being eaten by other predators is quite low for the cyan tarantula. In Venezuela, at most, wandering tapirs destroy the low-lying dwellings of the spider. In captivity, on the other hand, the Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens is more likely to cause diseases such as fungal infestation or parasites.
Defense of Chromatopelma Cyaneopubescens From Attackers
In addition to poison, the cyan tarantula has another defense option. On the back of the body, there are stinging hairs that are provided with nettle capsules. If the Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens feels threatened, it throws the stinging hairs at the attacker. These hit the enemy on the head and primarily irritate the eyes and mucous membranes. Often that is enough to put the enemy to flight. This property makes the cyan tarantula from Venezuela one of the so-called bombardier spiders.
Encounters with an aggressive Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens are generally harmless to humans. Both the bite and the stinging hairs feel like an insect bite or trigger a stinging sensation on the skin. Basically, however, the cyan tarantula is considered cautious towards humans. If it has the opportunity, the spider is more likely to flee and hide.
Reproduction and Offspring of the Cyan Tarantula
Once the Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens is sexually mature, it looks for a mate to mate in order to reproduce. The cyan tarantula drums its legs on the ground, signaling that it is ready to mate. For the male animals in particular, however, the act is not entirely harmless. If it is fast enough, after the sexual act, the male will escape danger before the female attacks and eats it. The female then lays eggs after about two months and watches over the clutch until the young spider’s hatch.
The Welfare of the Chromatopelma Cyaneopubescens
There are a few points to consider when keeping a cyan tarantula. In addition to the size of the terrarium, this also includes the right interior design and feeding. When it comes to the soil, you should definitely take into account that the cyan tarantula prefers to hide rather than burrow. So a 5 to a 10-centimeter high mixture of earth and sand is completely sufficient.
Roots, hollow stones, and halved clay bowls are mainly suitable as hiding places. So that the Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens has enough space for its webs, the terrarium should be at least 40 x 30 centimeters. Since climbing is also part of the way of life for the cyan-blue Venezuela tarantula, a height of 50 centimeters is appropriate.
You should also take these tips to heart for species-appropriate husbandry:
- suitable humidity (approx. 60 percent)
- adequate lighting (e.g. from a fluorescent tube)
- varied food (e.g. house crickets, crickets, and grasshoppers)
- correct temperature (up to 30 degrees during the day, a little cooler at night)
- a drinking bowl with clean water
Important: If you still want to keep a Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens, you should definitely pay attention to the points we have listed on the subject.