Bumba

Dominik Alexander
Nov 25
3 min read

Updated: Dec 7

Bumba is a small Neotropical genus of terrestrial tarantulas in the subfamily Theraphosinae, found mainly in the Amazon region of Brazil, with some species also recorded from Paraguay, Venezuela and Bolivia.

The group was first described in 2000 by Fernando Pérez-Miles under the name Iracema, based on the species Iracema cabocla from Amazonian Brazil. When it was later discovered that the name Iracema was already in use for another animal, the genus was briefly renamed Maraca in 2005, and then finally changed to Bumba in 2014 to resolve all remaining naming conflicts.

In the 2014 revision, Pérez-Miles, Bonaldo & Miglio established Bumba as the valid name and described Bumba lennoni, bringing together several “Brazilian redhead” type tarantulas under the new genus. Ongoing work since then has added multiple new species (such as B. cuiaba, B. mineiros, B. rondonia, B. tapajos and B. paunaka), so that today the genus includes around eight recognized species.

The name Bumba is a nod to Brazilian folk culture, referencing the traditional festival “Boi-bumbá” (“beat my bull”) from northern Brazil, where these spiders naturally occur.

Bumba horrida

Common name: Brazilian Redhead Tarantula (also known as Cabocla / Brazilian Red Head)
Origin: New World terrestrial species from the rainforests of northern Brazil (Amazon region)
Lifestyle: Terrestrial, burrow-forming species that appreciates deep, slightly moist substrate and a hide; often sits at the burrow entrance and makes a nice display
Adult size: Approximately 4–5 in (10–12 cm) legspan for adult females; males slightly smaller
Growth rate: Medium to medium-fast—reaches maturity quicker than many other New World terrestrials
Temperament: Generally calm and tolerant with a reputation for a gentle disposition; can be a bit skittish or defensive if stressed but not typically aggressive
Color & appearance: Eye-catching contrast of a bright reddish-orange carapace (“red head”) with dark gray to black legs and a dusky tan to charcoal abdomen; slender, long-legged look compared to bulkier tarantulas, making it a standout display species

Species history

Bumba horrida was first described in 1994 by Schmidt under the name Paraphysa horrida, based on material from northern Brazil. As taxonomists studied this group of spiders in more detail, the species was moved into the newly erected genus Bumba, a small New World tarantula genus centered in the Amazon basin. For years, hobbyists knew a very similar spider as Bumba cabocla, the “Brazilian Redhead,” but a 2020 revision showed that B. cabocla and B. horrida are actually the same species—so today, Bumba horrida is the accepted scientific name for this classic red-cephalothorax tarantula. It remains an uncommon but highly sought-after species in the hobby, prized for its coloration and generally calm demeanor.

Natural habitat

In the wild, Bumba horrida is found on the forest floor of northern Brazil and neighboring parts of Venezuela, within the greater Amazon region. It inhabits warm, humid lowland rainforest and neighboring savanna/forest-edge habitats, living terrestrially in shallow burrows or among roots, leaf litter, and fallen wood.

Temperatures in its range are consistently tropical with only slight seasonal variation, and the substrate tends to stay moist but well-drained—conditions that explain the species’ preference in captivity for deeper substrate, moderate to high humidity, and access to a secure hide or burrow.

Our Specimen

Given name: Churrasco

Sex: TBD

Life stage: Sling