Hey Wild Fact Fans, Seth here with the new Friday Feature creature. Don’t forget to please like, share and comment questions down below If you have any on this weeks animal ^^
This weeks feature creature is a desert arachnids who are shy, docile and prefers to remain hidden in the shadows as it stalks it’s prey; can really stand out with its colorful and bright red legs
. A lone hunter; it kills with deadly fangs and wards off foes with irritating hairs ; this tiny but mighty arachnid is a tough survivor as it thrives from deserts
to jungles
; and in some cases; in pet stores and on the big screen
due to its size and appearance
even though they’re pretty much harmless to humans
This weeks feature creature is the Mexican Redknee Tarantula ![]()



1. With a body size of 4 inches, a leg span of 6 inches, and weighing around 0.2lbs ; the mexican Redknee Tarantula is one of the most well recognized tarantula from new world
; ranging from the southwest USA
, Mexico
and down into central america
2. Females can live up to 30 years in the wild while males live much shorter lives
3. Easily recognized for its redknees ; these colors are used as species identification and as a way to startle enemies ; along with using it’s irritating hairs to annoy predators eyes
and noses
and make an escape
4. Mainly nocturnal ; sleeping in burrows during the day; Mexican red knee tarantulas hunt insects
, small amphibians
, lizards
, small snakes
, small birds
, and small mammals
. They do not need to eat often after a large meal; as they may not hunt again for another month.
5. Either they stalk thru the night for prey or wait near their dens with a silk trip line to alert it of prey or predators like scorpions
, centipedes , snakes
, big lizards
, other tarantulas, spider wasps , large birds
, and big mammals like coatis, raccoons
and skunks ![]()
6. The venom of the Mexican red knee tarantula is not strong to humans, and the bite is said to be equivalent to a bee sting
. But to small animals; its deadly as the venom breaks down the food and liquifies it so they can slurp its food up.
7. Since they have poor eyesight
; The Mexican red knee tarantula uses its legs to pick up tiny vibrations in the ground when hunting and ambushing prey. The end of the Mexican red knee tarantula’s legs are also able to sense smell
and taste
as well as touch
8. The Mexican red knee tarantula has two small ‘claws’ on the end of each of its legs that allow it to climb smooth surfaces
9. During the mating season, The male spins a web on the ground onto which he deposits sperm, then absorbing it onto the mouth palps. After going in search of a female’s burrow, he will attempt to coax her out, approaching her and using his front legs to hook back her fangs. He will deposit the sperm from his palps into a furrow on her abdomen, which she will store until she is ready to lay between 200 and 800 eggs in a silk sac!
10. Females guards the eggs in her burrow for 1 to 3 months, carrying them with even her when she leaves the den, until the spiderlings hatch in 2 to 8 weeks . They are protected by their mother in the burrow until their first molt, after which they will venture out and become independent in another 2 to 3 weeks .
11. A tarantula can grow back a leg
if it looses one!
Next weeks feature creature hint ![]()
: this mystery creature is also a popular cold
blooded tropical
exotic pet from the new world
. But instead of the color red ; this reptile sports a green scaly coat and has become invasive in Florida.
Kara Raeth is the DMM Service Lead at CatchMark Technologies, bringing over 15 years of experience in web development, customer service, and project management. She joined the company in 2019 as a Web Developer and has since expanded her role to include office management, accounts receivable and payable, and project management. Kara proudly served in the U.S. Army, where she specialized in signal and communication intelligence—developing a strong foundation in secure communication and technical systems. Her combined military background and digital expertise make her a vital asset to CatchMark’s digital marketing and media operations.
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