tarantula
Large fuzzy arachnid
A tarantula is a large, hairy spider.
The name originally referred to a European wolf spider associated with the Italian city of Taranto, where its bite supposedly caused frenzied dancing (tarantism).
Today it typically means the bigger, stockier spiders of the family Theraphosidae, kept as exotic pets and featured in horror films.
Despite their fearsome appearance, most tarantulas are relatively harmless to humans.
Web-spinning arachnid
- eight-leggedPossessing four pairs of limbs
- arthropodJointed-limb invertebrate phylum
- invertebrateAnimal sans backbone
- fangsSharp piercing teeth
spinnerets · exoskeleton · molting · silk · nocturnal · carnivore · predator · burrow
Injected animal poison
- fangsSharp piercing teeth
- bitePierce with teeth
- envenomationInjection of animal poison
- painfulCausing hurt or ache
swelling · mild · bee sting · neurotoxic · defensive · antivenom · venom glands
Glass-walled growing enclosure
- enclosureConfined, bordered space
- substrateUnderlying supporting material
- feedingGiving food to
- cricketsJumping insects that chirp
roaches · handling · docile · breeding · hobbyist · humidity · temperature · hide
Wet tropical woodland ecosystem
- jungleDense tropical forest
- AmazonGreek warrior women
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
- burrowAnimal's dug dwelling
canopy · undergrowth · humidity · biodiversity · neotropical · arboreal · terrestrial · desert
Persistent irrational dread
- arachnophobiaMorbid dread of spiders
- creepyDisturbingly strange
- shudderConvulsive trembling from fear
- goosebumpsRaised skin from cold
nightmare · dread · horror · sinister · unsettling · startling · flinch · scream
Soft and unclear
Inherited cultural narratives
- legendUnverified traditional tale
- AnansiWest African spider deity
- superstitionBaseless belief in omens
- omenProphetic indicator
curse · witchcraft · talisman · taboo · shamanism · folk medicine · death omen · trickster
spider
Web-spinning arachnid
- eight-leggedPossessing four pairs of limbs
- arthropodJointed-limb invertebrate phylum
- invertebrateAnimal sans backbone
fangs · spinnerets · exoskeleton · molting · silk · nocturnal · carnivore · predator · burrow · ambush
venom
Injected animal poison
- fangsSharp piercing teeth
- bitePierce with teeth
- envenomationInjection of animal poison
painful · swelling · mild · bee sting · neurotoxic · defensive · antivenom · venom glands
terrarium
Glass-walled growing enclosure
crickets · roaches · handling · docile · breeding · hobbyist · humidity · temperature · hide · water dish
rainforest
Wet tropical woodland ecosystem
burrow · canopy · undergrowth · humidity · biodiversity · neotropical · arboreal · terrestrial · desert · scrubland
phobia
Persistent irrational dread
- arachnophobiaMorbid dread of spiders
- creepyDisturbingly strange
- shudderConvulsive trembling from fear
goosebumps · nightmare · dread · horror · sinister · unsettling · startling · flinch · scream · panic
fuzzy
Soft and unclear
folklore
Inherited cultural narratives
- legendUnverified traditional tale
- AnansiWest African spider deity
- superstitionBaseless belief in omens
omen · curse · witchcraft · talisman · taboo · shamanism · folk medicine · death omen · trickster
- invertebratesinvertebrate, arthropod, arthropods, mollusk, crustacean
- spidersspiders, huntsman, spider silk, spider webs, web
- creepy crawlyant, spider, beetle, centipede, millipede
- desert thingssand, cactus, cacti, camel, dune
- Chihuahuan Desertmesquite, yucca, prickly pear, javelina, roadrunner
- desert survivalwater conservation, water storage, water retention, heat tolerance, drought tolerance
tarantulamoney spider
Tiny spider, folklore fortune
daddy longlegs · cellar spider · spiderling · black widow · jumping spider
tarantulamoney spider
Tiny spider, folklore fortune
jumping spider · crab spider · spiderling · mite · tick
- tarantula hawkSpider-hunting wasp species