Aphonopelma moderatum

(Chamberlin & Ivie, 1939)

Rio Grande Gold Tarantula

Aphonopelma moderatum, commonly known as the Rio Grande Gold Tarantula, is a of tarantula to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. It is a -sized member of the Aphonopelma, with females exhibiting distinctive orange and black coloration and exceptional longevity. The species is known for its docile temperament in captivity and has been observed in burrowing as spiderlings, though often occupy hides rather than constructing deep burrows.

Aphonopelma moderatum by (c) Chris A. Hamilton, Brent E. Hendrixson, Jason E. Bond, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Aphonopelma moderatum male ZooKeys 560 by Chris A. Hamilton, Brent E. Hendrixson, Jason E. Bond. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Aphonopelma moderatum: /əˌfoʊnəˈpɛlmə moʊˈdɛˌreɪtəm/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Distinguished from other Aphonopelma by the specific pattern of orange and black on female legs: orange , black , orange , black and . Males are identified by entirely black legs and dark contrasting with the black, dark orange-haired . Differentiation from Aphonopelma species requires examination of and geographic confirmation within the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.

Images

Appearance

Females possess an orange to tan with a slightly darker . Legs are mainly orange: orange, black, orange, with and fully black. Males have a dark carapace, black opisthosoma covered with dark orange hairs, and entirely black legs.

Habitat

Found in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Specific microhabitat details are limited, but the has been observed in burrowing as spiderlings and in captivity occupies hides or remains in the open rather than constructing extensive burrows.

Distribution

to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, United States. Restricted to this specific region of southern Texas.

Seasonality

Activity patterns specific to this are not documented. As with other Aphonopelma species, males may be more visible during warmer months when seeking mates.

Life Cycle

Females live 22 to 40 years. Males live approximately 7 years. Developmental details beyond longevity are not documented for this specifically.

Behavior

In captivity, displays docile ; if frightened may flick or flee, though this is uncommon. Biting is rare and is mild. Spiderlings are more prone to burrowing, while typically use hides rather than constructing burrows and often remain visible in the open.

Human Relevance

Kept in captivity due to docile nature. may cause irritation if contacted. is mild and bites are rare.

Similar Taxa

Other Aphonopelma speciesMany Aphonopelma share similar body plans and coloration; A. moderatum is distinguished by its specific orange-black leg pattern in females and geographic restriction to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas

More Details

Taxonomic history

Originally described as Delopelma moderatum by Chamberlin & Ivie in 1939, later transferred to Aphonopelma

Captive care notes

in captivity do not require deep substrate for burrowing and will typically use provided hides; this differs from the burrowing observed in spiderlings