Indian Endangered Species- Arthropoda - Poecilotheria metallica

Peacock Taruntula

(Poecilotheria metallica )

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Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
Animalia	Arthropoda	Arachnida	Araneae	Theraphosidae

The Gooty Sapphire Ornamental Tree Spider Poecilotheria metallica, a striking arboreal spider from India, and is creating quite a stir. An adult Gooty Sapphire tarantula has an incredible metallic blue colorations on its carapace, abdomen, and legs. Juveniles have a somewhat lavender hue color, but as it grows the lavender fades and is replaced by the beautiful hues of blue. The males are even more intensely colored blue tarantulas than the females.

Metallic Blue Ornamental Tree Spiders are hardy, and relatively fast growing. Mature specimens can have a leg span of about 6-8 inches (14 - 15-20 cm). Females can live up to 12 years. As with all tarantulas, males have a much shorter lifespan, living only a fourth to a third as long as females. This tarantula is a very defensive species, and therefore aggressive. It should be housed individually and not be handled A bite can be medically significant for some people.

P. metallica was originally discovered in the railway timber yard in a town called Gooty, located in central southern India. This led to the common name Gooty Tarantula. It was then rediscovered in in the forest between Nandyal and Giddalur in 2001, after a time lapse of 102 years. There are a number of common names it is known by today, including Gooty Sapphire Ornamental Tree Spider, Gooty Sapphire, Metallic Blue Ornamental Tree Spider, Metallic Tarantula, Peacock Parachute Spider, Peacock Tarantula, and Salepurgu.

The incredible beauty and rarity of captive-hatched Metallic Blue Ornamental Tree Spiders are producing an exhilaration in hobbyists. The Gooty Tarantula is truly the gem of several collections across the United States. This wonderful, bright blue spider is also quite expensive.