Cyriopagopus

Cyriopagopus is a Southeast Asian tarantula genus first described by French arachnologist Eugène Simon in 1887, with Cyriopagopus paganus designated as the type species.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, closely related Asian tarantulas were split among several genera, including Selenocosmia, Haplopelma, Melopoeus, Lampropelma, and Omothymus. As more material was studied, it became clear that many of these taxa were very similar, and their boundaries were poorly defined.

A major turning point came when A.M. Smith and others re-examined the type material. They showed that the defining features of Haplopelma actually matched those of Cyriopagopus, making Cyriopagopus the senior synonym. As a result, Haplopelma (a name long used in the hobby) was formally sunk into Cyriopagopus, and many familiar “Haplopelma” species were transferred into Cyriopagopus. This arrangement is followed by the World Spider Catalog and other major taxonomic databases.

Despite this, the whole Ornithoctoninae group (which includes Cyriopagopus and several allied genera) is still considered taxonomically messy and “in urgent need of revision,” with ongoing debate over where some species truly belong. Modern DNA-based work is expected to clarify these relationships in the future.

Today, Cyriopagopus comprises a small number of officially accepted species (around nine as of recent catalogs), all confined to tropical Southeast Asia from Myanmar and Thailand through Vietnam, Malaysia, Borneo, and the Philippines.

Cyriopagopus hainanus

Common name(s): Chinese Bird Spider, Chinese Giant (Black) Earth Tiger, White Beard Earth Tiger

Origin: Endemic to Hainan Island off the southern coast of China, where it occurs on steep, south-facing tropical mountain slopes.

Lifestyle: Old World, fossorial “earth tiger” – a deep-burrowing species that lines its burrow with silk and often lays out silk trip-lines. Largely nocturnal, emerging at night to ambush large invertebrate prey.

Adult size: A very large tarantula. Most adults reach roughly 6–7" (15–18 cm) diagonal leg span, with big females sometimes approaching 8" (~20 cm).

Growth rate: Medium growth rate for an Asian fossorial species – faster than many New World terrestrials but not an extreme “speed grower.” With warm temps and steady feeding, slings reach maturity in a few years.

Temperament: Very defensive, high-strung Old World tarantula with medically significant venom. More inclined to threat postures and rapid strikes than retreat; strongly recommended for experienced keepers only and never for handling.

Color & appearance: A massive, robust “black earth tiger” with thick legs and a heavy body. Adults are typically dark brown to jet-black overall, sometimes with a slightly lighter carapace, a reddish-brown sternum, and subtle tiger-like striping across the abdomen. The combination of size, glossy dark legs, and earth-tiger patterning gives this species a very imposing, armored look.

Species History

Cyriopagopus hainanus is a large, fossorial tarantula endemic to Hainan Island in southern China. It was first described in 1999 as Selenocosmia hainana by Liang, Peng, Huang & Chen, based on specimens from Tongshi County, Hainan.

As more Chinese theraphosids were studied, the species was shuffled through several genera. In 2001 it was transferred to Ornithoctonus as O. hainana, then moved again in 2003 to Haplopelma (H. hainanum), a name that became widely used in the hobby.

A broader re-evaluation of Southeast Asian “earth tigers” later showed that many so-called Haplopelma species actually belong in Cyriopagopus. In 2015 the species was formally placed in Cyriopagopus as C. hainanus, which is the name now followed by the World Spider Catalog and major taxonomic databases.

Today, C. hainanus is recognized as a highly venomous “Chinese bird spider,” famous in venom research for its complex cocktail of hainantoxins, and in the hobby under common names like Chinese Black Earth Tiger and Chinese Giant Black Earth Tiger.

Natural Habitat

Cyriopagopus hainanus is endemic to Hainan Island off the southern coast of China, where it occupies warm, humid tropical rainforest in the island’s mountainous interior. It is known from very steep, south-facing mountain slopes (often 75–85°), where stable, well-drained soil allows it to construct deep burrows. A strictly fossorial species, it lives in silk-lined burrow systems, sometimes with radiating “trip lines” at the entrance, remaining hidden by day and emerging at night to ambush passing prey—primarily large insects and other small animals.

Our Specimen

Given name: Karen

Sex: Female

Life stage: Adult

Size: Approximately 6 inches

• Highly defensive and unpleasant

• Somewhat of a consistent eater

• Beautiful earth tiger with dark coloration. An impressive and intimidating specimen.

Cyriopagopus lividus

Common Name: Cobalt Blue Tarantula

Origin: Tropical forests of Myanmar (Burma) and western Thailand in Southeast Asia

Lifestyle: Strictly fossorial; spends most of its life in deep, silk-lined burrows and usually emerges at night to ambush prey

Adult Size: Typically around 5–6 in (12–15 cm) leg span

Growth Rate: Moderate; faster than many New World species but not among the very fastest Old World tarantulas

Temperament: Defensive and very fast; prone to threat postures and retreating to its burrow rather than handling, best suited to experienced keepers

Color & Appearance: Famous for its striking metallic cobalt-blue legs contrasted with a darker carapace and abdomen. Juveniles tend to be more muted, gaining intense blue coloration as they mature.

Species History

Cyriopagopus lividus, better known as the cobalt blue tarantula, was first described scientifically by Andrew M. Smith in 1996 from specimens collected in Myanmar (then Burma). It was originally placed in the genus Haplopelma as Haplopelma lividum, a group of Southeast Asian, burrowing tarantulas.

Later taxonomic work on Asian “earth tiger” tarantulas showed that Haplopelma and several related genera were actually part of the older genus Cyriopagopus. As a result, Haplopelma lividum was formally transferred and is now accepted as Cyriopagopus lividus, with Haplopelma lividum treated as a junior synonym.

In nature, C. lividus occurs in the humid forests and plantations of Myanmar and western Thailand, where it lives as a fossorial (burrowing) predator in deep, silk-lined tunnels. Since its introduction to the hobby in the late 1990s, the species has become an iconic Old World tarantula thanks to its intense metallic blue legs and secretive burrowing lifestyle. Its speed and defensive temperament mean it’s typically recommended for experienced keepers rather than beginners, but it remains one of the most recognizable and sought-after Asian tarantulas in the trade.

Natural Habitat

Cyriopagopus lividus is native to the warm, humid forests of Southeast Asia, primarily Myanmar (Burma) and neighboring parts of Thailand, with reports extending into Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. In the wild, this species is a strictly fossorial tarantula that spends nearly all of its life in deep, silk-lined burrows dug into compact soil on the forest floor or in jungle clearings. These habitats are tropical rainforests with a pronounced monsoon cycle—hot temperatures, consistently high humidity, and heavy seasonal rains that keep the substrate moist but well-drained.

This secretive lifestyle means wild cobalt blues are rarely seen out in the open; they typically emerge at night to ambush passing insects and other small invertebrates at the burrow entrance.

Species Notes:

Given name: Heather

Sex: Female

Life-stage: Adult

• Amazingly beautiful blue tarantula

• Spicy disposition

• Consistent eater

• Heather is approximately 4.5 inches

Cyriopagopus albostriatus

Common name: Thai Zebra Tarantula (also sold as Thailand Zebra Leg / Zebra Leg Tarantula)

Origin: Native to mainland Southeast Asia, with confirmed populations in Thailand, Myanmar, and Cambodia.

Lifestyle: Old World, fossorial tarantula that spends most of its time in deep burrows, often heavily webbed. Best kept as a terrestrial burrower with ample substrate.

Adult size: Typically reaches around 5–6 in (12–15 cm) legspan, with a sturdy, compact body.

Growth rate: Medium to fast – slings and juveniles put on size steadily with regular feeding, making it quicker to mature than many New World species.

Temperament: A classic defensive Old World species – fast, skittish, and willing to stand its ground. Not recommended for beginners or handling; relies on threat postures and a strong bite rather than urticating hairs.

Color & appearance:A striking dark brown to black tarantula with bold cream/white striping on the legs and a pale chevron/zig-zag pattern on the abdomen, giving the characteristic “zebra” look against the dark background. Some individuals show a steel-blue sheen on the carapace and legs under certain lighting.

Species History

Cyriopagopus albostriatus was first described in 1886 by Eugène Simon from specimens collected in what was then Siam (modern Thailand) and surrounding regions. Over time, the species has moved through several genera as tarantula taxonomy in Southeast Asia has been revised. It originally appeared as Selenocosmia albostriata, and was later placed in Melopoeus and then Haplopelma as Haplopelma albostriatum.

In 2015, a major revision of the group transferred this species into the genus Cyriopagopus, giving it the currently accepted name Cyriopagopus albostriatus. Today it is recognized as a distinct Old World fossorial tarantula found in Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia and is widely known in the hobby as the Thai zebra (or zebra leg) tarantula, named for the bold white striping on its legs and abdomen.

In parts of Cambodia and Thailand, Cyriopagopus albostriatus has become an iconic (and controversial) street snack. Large adults are collected or farmed and deep-fried, then sold in markets and roadside stalls—most famously around the Cambodian town of Skuon, often nicknamed “Spiderville,” where they’re known in Khmer as a-ping. The custom appears to have started during periods of severe food scarcity in the late 20th century, when rural communities turned to wild invertebrates for survival; over time it evolved into a tourist attraction and local delicacy, usually described as a protein-rich snack with a crispy exterior. In the tarantula hobby, however, C. albostriatus is appreciated for its striking patterning and behavior—not as a food animal.

Natural Habitat

Cyriopagopus albostriatus is native to mainland Southeast Asia, where it occurs in Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia. In the wild it is a strictly fossorial species, spending most of its life in deep silk-lined burrows. These burrows are found in compact soils on forested mountain slopes, scrubby woodland, and other warm, humid lowland and foothill habitats.

Local populations are often associated with leaf litter and root systems that help stabilize the burrow, and they may also occur in more disturbed areas such as field margins, roadsides, and near villages, provided the ground remains stable and there are enough insects to hunt. These environments are typically tropical to subtropical, with pronounced wet and dry seasons, warm temperatures year-round, and moderate to high humidity.

Our Specimen:

Given name: Cheryl

Sex: Female

Life stage: Adult

• Approximately 5 inches

• Defensive disposition

• Has been on display as of late

• Consistent eater

Genus and species: Cyriopagopus sp. Valhalla

Common name: Emerald Tree Spider

Given name: Leif

This Thailand species is black with a green or emerald carapace. Adult specimens are difficult to acquire and given their emerald coloration, have been marketed intensely.

Our Specimen:

Given name: Leif

Sex: TBD

Life Stage: sling

• Heavy webber

• New addition to our collection

Cyriopagopus sp. Nhen Dep 

• Common name: Nhen Dep Earth Tiger (also sold as Nhen Dep blue earth tiger tarantula)

• Origin: Tropical forests of Vietnam, Southeast Asia

• Lifestyle: Fossorial “earth tiger” tarantula; deep burrower that lines its tunnels with webbing and spends most of its time in or at the burrow entrance

• Adult size: Approx. 5–7" (12–18 cm) diagonal leg span; large, robust Old World species

• Growth rate: Moderate to fast; reaches impressive size in a few years with regular feeding

• Temperament: Shy and reclusive in its burrow but very defensive and extremely fast when disturbed; recommended for confident, experienced keepers

• Color & appearance:

  • Warm tan to golden carapace

  • Bold dark striping on the abdomen

  • Dark legs with lighter “knees” and subtle banding

  • Metallic blue coloration on the underside of the legs, especially noticeable under strong lighting

Species History

Cyriopagopus sp. “Nhen Dep” (often sold as Ornithoctoninae or Haplopelma sp. “Nhen Dep”) is an undescribed Old World earth-tiger tarantula from Vietnam. It first began appearing in the hobby around 2020 via field-collected adults and has since been sporadically imported into Europe and North America, where it’s still considered a rare, advanced-keeper species.

The trade name “Nhen Dep” comes from the Vietnamese “Nhện đẹp”, meaning “beautiful spider”, a nod to its striking pattern and blue ventral leg coloration. Hobby breeders originally listed it broadly as Ornithoctoninae sp., but closer examination of its spermatheca and cheliceral setae suggests it belongs in the genus Cyriopagopus, likely within the schmidti-group of large fossorial earth tigers.

Despite being widely sold as Cyriopagopus sp. “Nhen Dep” or even Cyriopagopus nhen dep, it has not yet been formally described in the scientific literature, so the “sp.” and locality/trade name remain the most accurate way to reference it. Until a proper taxonomic revision is published, it should be treated as a distinct, yet still undescribed Vietnamese Cyriopagopus known for its bold temperament and glowing blue underside.

Natural Habitat

Cyriopagopus sp. “Nhen Dep” is a fossorial “earth tiger” tarantula native to the warm, humid forests of Vietnam. In the wild it lives in tropical monsoon rainforest, where temperatures sit in the mid-20s °C and humidity is high for most of the year, with a pronounced rainy season.

Like related Vietnamese Cyriopagopus species, it is a deep burrower, excavating silk-lined tunnels in compact, moisture-retentive forest soil, often under roots or wood where leaf litter accumulates. The burrow mouth is heavily webbed and used as a permanent retreat. After dark, these spiders sit at the entrance as nocturnal ambush predators, grabbing passing insects and other small invertebrates before retreating back underground at the slightest disturbance.

Our Specimen:

Given name: TBD

Sex: Female

Life stage: Adult

• New addition to our collection.

• Absolutely stunning specimen

• Intimidating appearance