Gooty Sapphire Tarantula (Poecilotheria Metallica)
The Gooty Sapphire tarantula is a species of spider found in the southern parts of India. Its geometric pattern and blue coloration makes it unique in appearance.
Recently ,researchers have sighted Gooty Tarantula for the first time beyond its known habitat in the Eastern Ghats.Peacock Parachute Spider or Gooty Tarantula is belonging to the genus Poecilotheria .Its scientific name is Poecilotheria metallica.It is spotted in the Pakkamalai Reserve Forests in Tamil Nadu .The species, known to be endemic to India . The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) categorised it as Critically Endangered .The species had so far not been sighted in any other part of India or Sri Lanka except its known habitat in Andhra Pradesh.The known habitat of this species is in the Eastern Ghats especially degraded forests near Nandyal in Andhra Pradesh.It is the only blue species of the genus Poecilotheria.
Physical Description and Identification
Adults
Size: They are big in size, an adult spider growing upto a length of 6 inches (152.4 mm).
Color: Blue body (the only species in its genus to be have such a coloration) which is more prominent in adult males than females. Patches of yellow colorations are seen on its legs.
Other characteristics: The males are seen with more slender bodies and longer legs in comparison to their female counterparts. Some of the blue-haired tarantulas could possess a flower like structure on their hairs that help in minimizing iridescence.
Eggs
The eggs are round, with thousands of purple slings contained in a single sac.
Spiderlings
The spiderlings are mostly lavender in color that fades away and are replaced with blue as they grow up.
The Web
They have asymmetrical and funnel-shaped webs that are made in the holes of trees where these spiders live.
Do the Gooty Sapphire Tarantula Bite and are They Poisonous
These spiders are mostly submissive and try to escape on sensing a threat and could only bite if provoked.
In most cases they give dry bites where the venom does not enter into the body of the victim. No fatalities in humans have been recorded till date, though the bite could be painful since their fangs grow to about 3/4th inch. The symptoms could be mild pertaining to swelling or lump lasting for a week or a little severe depending on the nature of the bite.
Quick Facts
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Other names |
Gooty sapphire ornamental tree spider, Gooty tarantula, Gooty sapphire, peacock parachute spider, metallic tarantula, peacock tarantula |
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Lifespan |
Males: 3 to 4 years |
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Distribution |
India (Andhra Pradesh), Sri Lanka |
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Habitat |
They are arboreal spiders, mostly living inside the holes of tall trees, in the dense deciduous forests. |
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Predators |
Tarantula hawk, big wasps |
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Diet |
Several insects like fruit flies, mantis, moths |
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IUCN |
Critically Endangered |
Did You Know
- They got their name from the place Gooty (in Andhra Pradesh), where they were discovered for the first time near a railway timber yard in 1897.
- After their inception, they were rediscovered after about 113 years in the forest reserve which lies between the regions of Nandyal and Giddalur and were seen for the last time in 2013.
- People have kept it as pets and in the U.S an adult cost more than $500, while the price of spiderlings varies from $100 to $200, with females costing more.
- The limited area it is confined too, alongside being much sought-after by scientists and enthusiasts interested in keeping them as pets, make these species highly endangered.