Family THERAPHOSIDAE Thorell, 1870

Museums

Regional Maps

Introduction

The Theraphosidae of Australia are known as Whistling Spiders as both males and females have the ability to make an audible hissing sound with apparatus between the outer face of the chelicerae and front face of the maxillae. The whistling ability is known for the subfamily Selenocosmiinae which include genera in South-East Asia and Central America. Members of the group are generally known as Tarantulas and are the largest, by weight at least of all spiders; indeed a South Amercian theraphosid is deemed the largest spider in the world.

In Australia, both the giant Golden Orb Weavers (Nephila pilipes, family Nephilidae) and the giant Water Spider (Megadolomedes australianus, Family Pisauridae) have a greater leg span than the Australian tarantulas, but are much lighter built in the legs. The Tarantulas are ground-burrowing animals and are found in regions of Australia that have warm winters. They are amongst the longest living of spiders with males maturing in 5–7 years and females recorded at over 25 years. Although few species are described from Australia, the fauna is reasonably diverse and now highly sought after by the pet trade (both in Australia and illegally overseas) where spiders can sell for up to $250 each. Theraphosidae have mastered habitats from deserts to supralitoral zones near mangroves. Although their venom is highly toxic to dogs and cats (they die within one hour of a bite), bites to humans have been of less concern. Tarantulas no doubt provide important food sources for hungry and endangered desert mammals like the Bilby.

While currently there are only 8 recognised species in 5 genera a recent study by Briggs et al. (2023) presented evidence suggesting at least a further 12 species may be present in Australia.

Diagnosis

Among Australian mygalomorphs, the Theraphosidae may be readily recognised by the combination of dense pads of hair (claw tufts) at the end of each leg and the digitiform apical segment of the larger (posterior lateral spinnerets).

Diagnosis References

Raven, R.J. 1985. The spider infraorder Mygalomorphae (Araneae): Cladistics and Systematics. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 182(1): 1-180 [Date published December 5, 1985] [115]

General References

Briggs, E.J., Santana, R.C., Raven, R.J. & Cook, L.G. 2023. Assessing the diversity of Australian tarantulas (Araneae: Theraphosidae) using DNA barcoding and iterative species delimitation. Austral Entomology 62(4): 464-478

History of changes