Utah Tarantula, Baboon Spiders
Araneae theraphosidae
Aphonopelma iodius
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32 male


Tarantula's eyes surrounded by a darker "V" pattern
which is an identifier for the Utah Tarantula
male "v" pattern



Tarantula in front of cave-like structure
where crickets (dinner)  like to hide
33


Close-up of chelicerae
30



Close-up showing claws and claw tuft at
end of tarsus and the spur on the tibia
007



Close-up of  mating spur used
by males to restrain females
spur


Close-up of spinnerets
21



Close-up of abdomen showing reddish orange setae
003



Underside
005


Ventral View
006


Photo just after he caught a cricket which took hours
for him to consume.  He caught it in the early afternoon
and after I shot three photos using the  flash,
he took it into his cave to enjoy it in peace. 
According to his caretaker, John Richards,
he eats about one cricket a week.
catch


In captivity these Tarantulas will feed on crickets
The crickets like spinach and lettuce
dinner
Photo Details - ŠNicky Davis
Located in Herriman City, Salt Lake County, Utah and given to John Richards who loaned him to me to photograph .

Photos of male Utah Tarantula - Aphonopelma iodius
Tarantulas are nocturnal, sit and wait  predators and stay close to their burrows.  Some female tarantula in captivity have lived 30 years.  Females in captivity are reported to mature at a minimum of seven years in this species - iodius (Chamberlin & Ivie 1939b) and continue to molt throughout their lives.  Females continue to use burrows after maturity but males leave them to find females during the breeding season.

Pronunciation of Theraphosidae  is  Ther - ah - FO - seh - dee or di

"Spiders of North America" D. ubick, P. Paquin, P.E. Cushing and V. Roth, illustrations by N. Duperre.



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