Citharacanthus

Dominik Alexander
Nov 24
3 min read

Citharacanthus is a genus of New World tarantulas in the family Theraphosidae, found in Central America and the Caribbean, especially Cuba, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Hispaniola. The genus was established in the early 1900s by British arachnologist R. I. Pocock, who reassigned several large ground-dwelling species from older catch-all genera into Citharacanthus as tarantula taxonomy became more refined. One of these, Citharacanthus longipes, originally described by F. O. Pickard-Cambridge in 1897, was later designated the type species and remains the reference point for the genus.

Over the following decades, additional species were added from Cuba and mainland Central America as expeditions and museum work uncovered more material. Modern compilations such as the World Spider Catalog currently recognize seven valid species in the genus, including the hobby-favourite C. cyaneus from Cuba and more localized species like C. meermani from Belize and C. livingstoni from Guatemala.

Today, Citharacanthus is treated as a small but distinctive lineage of terrestrial theraphosids, representing part of the rich radiation of New World tarantulas across Mesoamerica and the Antilles, and it continues to feature in both scientific work on Neotropical tarantulas and in the specialized pet trade.

Citharacanthus Cyaneus

Common names: Cuban orange & violet dwarf, orange-violet dwarf, Cuban violet tarantula

Origin: Endemic to Cuba, where it is found in warm tropical scrubland and woodland habitats.

Lifestyle: A New World terrestrial, opportunistic burrower. It usually lives close to the ground, making use of shallow burrows, cracks, and tight retreats, and will web up its hide extensively.

Adult size: A true dwarf tarantula, typically reaching around 2.5–3 in (6–8 cm) legspan, with some sources listing up to roughly 10 cm.

Growth rate: Generally described as medium to fast-growing for a dwarf species – slings can reach a couple of inches within about a year under good conditions.

Temperament: Often characterized in the hobby as calm to moderately skittish rather than defensive. It’s a typical New World species: more likely to bolt or retreat than stand and fight, though individuals may vary.

Color & appearance: One of the most striking dwarfs in the hobby, adults show:

A rich orange to copper carapace and abdomen
Violet to purplish legs and chelicerae, giving the classic “orange & violet” contrast
A compact, lightly built body typical of dwarf terrestrials

Freshly molted individuals can be especially vivid, with deep violet legs against a glowing orange body.

Species history

Citharacanthus cyaneus is a small New World tarantula species endemic to Cuba and belonging to the family Theraphosidae. It was formally described by German arachnologist J.-P. Rudloff in 1994, who placed it in the genus Citharacanthus as part of a wave of taxonomic work revising Caribbean theraphosids.

Since its description, C. cyaneus has remained a Cuban endemic in major taxonomic databases such as the World Spider Catalog, GBIF, ITIS, and Catalogue of Life, which all list it as a valid species within Citharacanthus.

In the tarantula hobby, the species began appearing in North American and European collections under common names like “Cuban violet,” “Cuban orange/violet,” or “orange-violet dwarf”, referencing the striking contrast between its orange body and violet to purplish legs. Although still considered uncommon, it has gained a reputation as a desirable dwarf tarantula: a colorful, semi-fossorial New World species that typically reaches only about 2.5–3 inches in leg span and is sought out by keepers looking for something a bit more unusual from the Caribbean region.

Natural habitat

Citharacanthus cyaneus is endemic to Cuba, with records centered in the tropical regions of the island, including the province of Santiago de Cuba.

In nature it is a small terrestrial tarantula of warm, low-elevation scrub and woodland habitats. Field and hobby sources describe it from dry to semi-humid scrubland with loose soil, leaf litter, and decaying wood, where it uses natural crevices and shallow burrows for cover.

The climate in its range is tropical with distinct wet and dry seasons: consistently warm temperatures, moderately high humidity, and periodic heavy rains. Within this setting, C. cyaneus lives close to the ground in sheltered microhabitats that offer a mix of crumbly substrate for burrowing, surface debris for webbing, and secure retreats under roots, stones, or fallen branches.

Our Specimen:

Given name: Mandarin

Sex: TBD - suspected female

Life Stage: Adult