Lasiocyano

Dominik Alexander
Nov 15
3 min read

This genus includes one accepted species, the L. sazimai. Required reading is an article by Galleti-Lima et al. 2023.

Lasiocyano sazimai

Common name

Brazilian Blue Tarantula (also known as Sazima’s Tarantula / Iridescent Blue Tarantula).

Origin

Endemic to eastern Brazil, particularly the highland areas of Bahia and Minas Gerais (Chapada Diamantina / Espinhaço range).

Lifestyle

New World terrestrial, opportunistic/facultative burrower. In captivity it prefers a terrestrial setup with deep substrate, a hide, and will often web around its shelter.

Adult size

Medium-sized species: adult leg span typically around 5–6 in (12–15 cm).

Growth rate

Generally moderate (often described as slow-to-moderate or medium-to-fast depending on conditions).

Temperament

A generally nervous or skittish New World species: quick on its feet and prone to bolting, but most keepers report it as more shy than aggressive, with threat postures and defensive behavior possible if pushed. Often recommended for keepers with some prior experience rather than as a first tarantula.

Color & appearance

One of the most striking blue tarantulas in the hobby. Freshly molted adults show:

Iridescent cobalt to electric-blue legs and carapace
Dark navy to black dorsal carapace center
Contrasting darker abdomen cloaked in fine setae, often with a warm brown to maroon sheen toward the rear
Juveniles start darker and less vibrant, gaining solid metallic blue with each molt.

Species History

Lasiocyano sazimai is a relatively new arrival to science and the hobby. The species was first formally described in 2011 by Bertani, Nagahama & Fukushima, who placed it in the genus Pterinopelma as Pterinopelma sazimai. The specific name honors Brazilian zoologist Dr. Ivan Sazima, who collected the first specimens back in the 1970s–80s; those early spiders sat in collections for decades before being recognized as a new species.

In 2016, additional taxonomic work clarified that the male originally attributed to P. sazimai was actually a different species, later named Pterinopelma felipeleitei. The true male of sazimai was then properly described from near the type locality, helping solidify the species’ diagnostic characters and its striking blue coloration.

Modern phylogenomic studies led to a reclassification in 2023, when P. sazimai was moved into a new, monotypic genus: Lasiocyano. It is now correctly referred to as Lasiocyano sazimai and stands as the only member of its genus.

Native to the “campo rupestre” highland habitats of the Espinhaço range in Bahia and Minas Gerais, Brazil, this iridescent blue terrestrial tarantula quickly became one of the most sought-after New World species after its introduction to the hobby around 2012. Today it’s widely known as the Brazilian Blue or Sazima’s Tarantula and is commonly available in captivity through responsibly bred stock.

Natural Habitat

Lasiocyano sazimai is found in a very small area of eastern Brazil, mainly in the high plateau region of Chapada Diamantina in the states of Bahia and Minas Gerais. It lives in elevated “campo rupestre” (rupestrian grasslands) around 900+ m above sea level – open, rocky slopes with sparse, low vegetation and thin, poor soils, where days can be warm but nights drop cool and seasons swing between dry winters and rainy summers.

In the wild it shelters under rocks or in shallow burrows and crevices, sharing this harsh, sun-exposed landscape with hardy grasses, shrubs, bromeliads and other endemic plants and animals of the Espinhaço mountain range.

Our Specimen:

Given name: Constantina

Sex: Female (likely)

Life stage: Sub-adult