he Mexican Redknee (Brachypelma smithi) is a member of the Theraphosidae (Bird-eating spiders) and has been collected since the 1970's and 1980's. It was originally discovered by a collector named H.H. Smith in 1888, and was one of the first spider species to enter the pet trade. It has also been used as scary props in many films such as "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and a couple of James Bond films.

From Colima to Oaxaca

The Mexican Redknee, as the name would suggest is native to central Mexico, and is found along the Pacific coast from Colima to Oaxaca. It lives in dry deciduous forest, scrub and desert areas, and lives primarily on the ground, in burrows or under rocks.

Leggy Males

The Mexican Redknee Has featured in many films such as "Raiders of the Lost Ark"

Females can have a body size of up to 3.5 - 4 inches, with a leg span of up to 6 - 7 inches, although they are usually smaller than this. Big females weigh approximately 40g. Males tend to be smaller in terms of body size, yet they have proportionally longer legs.

On its legs this species has alternating bands of bright reddish-orange and black, that give it its name. The cephalothorax (name given to a fused head and thorax) is black with a light brown outer edge and the abdomen is black. There are irregular longer white-tipped hairs over the legs and abdomen.

The Wrong Name

Like many other Theraphosids the Mexican Redknee is often referred to as a Tarantula. However, the true Tarantula is a wolf spider from Southern Europe.

Even the name Bird-eating spider is misleading because they don't just feed on birds.

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Good Vibrations

Far more important than eyesight, the Mexican Redknee uses the hairs on it's body to sense it's prey.

The long hairs found on the body and legs are actually sense organs (called Trichobothria) that perceive minute vibrations in the air. These are far more important to the spider than eyesight, and are used by the spider to detect its prey.