Cobalt blue tarantula

Description

The cobalt blue tarantula is a medium-sized tarantula with a leg span around 13 cm. It is noted for its iridescent blue legs and light gray prosoma and opisthosoma, the latter of which may contain darker gray chevrons. Males and females look the same until the ultimate (final) molt of the males. At this point, the male exhibits sexual dimorphism in the form of a light tan or bronze coloration and legginess. Additionally, males gain a palpal bulb on the pedipalps and tibial apophyses (mating hooks). The female eventually becomes larger than the male and lives years longer. The cobalt blue tarantula is a fossorial species and spends nearly all of its time in deep burrows of its own construction. The venom of the tarantula is not enough to kill a human, but it can badly sting them and be extremely painful. The venom contains glutamic acid, at 0.97% concentration. Histamine and adenosine were detected at 0.14% and 0.10% with the polyamine spermine noted in trace amounts at 0.002% (Moore et al., 2009).

Image:Haplopelma lividum - captive breeding.jpg|A female (left) and male (right) in courtship in captivity Image:2iH lividum.JPG|A second-instar spiderling cobalt blue tarantula near burrow

Habitat

Cobalt blue tarantulas inhabit the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia, where they construct deep burrows, and generally only leave them to find food.

Pets

The cobalt blue tarantula is a mainstay in the pet trade, despite being a fast and defensive tarantula with potent venom. Bites from this species can result in severe muscle cramps and inflammation.

References

Moore, S., Smyth, W. F., Gault, V., O’Kane, E., & McClean, S. (2009c). Mass spectrometric characterisation and quantitation of selected low molecular mass compounds from the venom of Haplopelma lividum (Theraphosidae). Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 23(12), 1747–1755. https://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.4063

References

1. (2009-05-15). "บึ้งน้ำเงินเพชฌฆาต สวยประหารพันธุ์ดุ". Thai Rath.
2. Photos of [http://www.spidy.goliathus.com/english/haplopelma-lividum-id79.html Haplopelma lividum]
3. Panecasio, Steph. "Scientists have figured out why some tarantulas are bright blue".
4. "Cobalt Blue Tarantula".
5. (1996). "A new species of ''Haplopelma'' (Araneae: Theraphosidae), with notes on two close relatives". Mygalomorph.
6. Takaoka Makoto. (2001). "Tarantulas Bite: Two Case Reports of Finger Bite from ''Haplopelma lividum''". The Japanese Journal of Toxicology.
7. "Cobalt Blue Tarantula (''Haplopelma lividum'')".
8. Schultz, Stanley A.. (2009). "The Tarantula Keeper's Guide: Comprehensive Information on Care, Housing, and Feeding". Barrons.
9. "Taxon details ''Cyriopagopus lividus'' Smith, 1996". Natural History Museum Bern.