Hairy, scary, spider?

The Chilean rose-hair tarantula is a large tarantula that can grow to 5 inches long with legs extended.  After reaching adulthood, males are generally slimmer with longer legs, while females remain stocky.  Their name comes from the subtle reddish-orange coloration on the hair; however, depending on the where the tarantula comes from the coloring may be subtle or clearly visible.

They are found in Chile, Bolivia and Argentina.  The rose-hair tarantula’s natural habitat is desert and scrubland.  It eats other insects and has been known to attack small lizards, snakes and rodents.

Conservation Status: Not threatened

Did you know?
The rose-hair tarantula has hairs covering its body that it can flick into the air at a target using their back pairs of legs.  These hairs are barbed and designed to irritate.  They can be lethal to small animals such as rodents.