TarantulaIdentification, facts & practical guidance

Tarantulas are spiders in Theraphosidae. The family includes many species, so the size and behavior of a Texas brown tarantula cannot describe every tarantula.

Compiled by the InsectLibrary Team · Updated 2026-09-30 · Editorial policy

Identification and lookalikes

Aphonopelma iodius - Aphonopelma iodiusno rights reserved. https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ Source: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/402925585

Aphonopelma anax - Texas Tan Tarantula(c) Chris A. Hamilton, Brent E. Hendrixson, Jason E. Bond, some rights reserved (CC BY)

Tliltocatl vagans - Mexican Red-rump TarantulaContributed by Lynette Elliott; Additional contributions by metrioptera , Laura P.

Look for a heavy body and stout, hairy legs. A large wolf spider can be mistaken for a small tarantula; clear photographs and location are needed for a useful comparison.

Burrows and wandering males

The Texas brown tarantula is a North American example of a burrow-dwelling tarantula. Mature males may travel while seeking mates. Other tarantula species use different habitats, including trees.

What to do next

Observe without picking it up. Avoid contact with defensive hairs and do not transfer care advice between species. For captive animals, obtain guidance specific to the identified species.

Tarantula: species profiles

Explore 19 species profiles covered by this guide, with recorded names and available photos.

Aphonopelma iodius

no rights reserved

Texas Tan Tarantula

Aphonopelma anax

Mexican Red-rump Tarantula

Tliltocatl vagans

Texas Black Spot Tarantula

Aphonopelma armada

Madera Canyon Tarantula

Aphonopelma madera

Desert Tarantula

Aphonopelma chalcodes

Texas Brown Tarantula

Aphonopelma hentzi

Aphonopelma catalina

Aphonopelma chiricahua

Aphonopelma eutylenum

Aphonopelma gabeli

Aphonopelma icenoglei

Showing 12 of 19 species. Browse all in Araneae →

Sources and further reading

mdc.mo.gov - texas brown tarantulahttps://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/texas-brown-tarantula

References support the subject discussed here; they do not certify every imported directory record. Regional sources describe their own locations. Read our source and correction policy.