tarantula

noun

ta·ran·tu·la tə-ˈran-chə-lə

-tə-lə;

-ˈranch-lə,

-ˈrant-

plural tarantulas also tarantulae tə-ˈran-chə-ˌlē

-tə-ˌlē;

-ˈranch-ˌlē,

-ˈrant-

: any of various large, typically ground-dwelling, hairy, mygalomorph spiders (family Theraphosidae) of warm regions that possess venomous fangs used to subdue and kill prey (such as insects, centipedes, frogs, and mice) caught by ambush or chase and that construct silk-lined burrows but do not build webs to trap food

Note: Tarantulas of the western hemisphere possess barbed, irritating, detachable hairs on the back of the abdomen which may be kicked off as projectiles when the spider is threatened. It is thought that the presence of these defensive hairs may explain the limited aggressiveness of New World tarantulas and the minimal effect (such as redness or swelling) of their venom on humans. Tarantulas of the eastern hemisphere, however, lack these irritating hairs, tend to display greater aggressiveness, and are more likely to inflict painful bites with venom that may sometimes cause severe systemic reactions.

Most spiders bite with a pinching movement, like the grip of human thumb and forefinger. But tarantulas bite straight down, enabling them to take on larger prey.

Richard Conniff

Bites of U.S. tarantulas are considered medically benign.

Rick Weiss

compare bird spider, baboon spider

: a European wolf spider (Lycosa tarantula) formerly held to be the cause of tarantism

Few folk dances have an origin as memorable as the tarantella from southern Italy, which earned its name from a tale involving the tarantula spider.

Danielle Poulos

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tarantula

noun

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