Psalmopoeus

Species of this genus are native to Central America and northern South America. All Psalmopoeus is a New World genus of arboreal tarantulas in the family Theraphosidae. These spiders are found from Trinidad & Tobago through Central America into northern South America, including countries such as Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Brazil, Belize, Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras. All known species are tree-dwelling, and Psalmopoeus victori was the first arboreal tarantula formally described from Mexico.

The genus was established in 1895 by British arachnologist Reginald Innes Pocock, based on the Trinidad species Psalmopoeus cambridgei, which remains the type species today. Over the following decades Pocock and other authors added several more species, including P. ecclesiasticus, P. emeraldus and P. plantaris from Colombia and Ecuador, and P. pulcher from Panama and Colombia.

During the 20th and early 21st century, new species such as P. irminia (1994), P. maya (1996), P. langenbucheri (2006) and P. victori (2014) expanded the known range and diversity of the genus. Modern taxonomic work has since reviewed many of these species, clarified several historical synonyms, and placed Psalmopoeus in the subfamily Psalmopoeinae alongside related arboreal genera. Recent revisions and new descriptions from Ecuador, Honduras and Colombia continue to add species such as P. pristirana and others, bringing the genus to over a dozen described species today.

Psalmopoeus victori

• Common name: Mexican Half & Half, Darth Maul Tarantula

• Origin: Endemic to the moist montane forests of Veracruz and surrounding eastern Mexico (Sierra Madre Oriental).

• Lifestyle: New World arboreal tarantula; builds silk retreats in vertical tree cavities, bark crevices, and other elevated hideouts.

• Adult size: Typically 5–6.5 in (12–17 cm) diagonal leg span, with some reports up to ~7 in in large females.

• Growth rate: Fast-growing species; females often reach maturity in roughly 2–4 years under good husbandry, males a bit sooner.

• Temperament: Very fast, defensive, and flighty; strong feeding response, prefers to bolt to its retreat rather than stand its ground, not recommended as a beginner’s first tarantula.

• Color & appearance:

  • Front half (carapace, legs I–II) dark charcoal to black with a subtle green/bronze sheen.

  • Rear half (abdomen, legs III–IV) rich orange-red to deep red, giving a clear “half & half” contrast.

  • Females are stocky and vividly colored; males are more slender with more muted, grey-green tones but retain the red abdomen.

Species History

Psalmopoeus victori is a relatively new addition to the hobby, formally described in 2014 by Mexican arachnologist Jorge Iván Mendoza-Marroquín. It was discovered in the moist evergreen forests of Veracruz, Mexico, and at the time of its description it was the first arboreal tarantula species ever described from Mexico and marked the northernmost known limit of the genus Psalmopoeus.

The species name victori is a patronym honoring Mexican herpetologist Víctor H. Jiménez Arcos, who collected the first known specimen. Since its description, additional work on Mesoamerican Psalmopoeus has confirmed P. victori as a distinct species and extended its known range slightly beyond the original type locality, though precise locations are deliberately kept vague to reduce pressure from over-collecting.

In the hobby this spider quickly became popular under the common names “Mexican Half & Half” and “Darth Maul tarantula,” a nod to its striking contrast of dark forelegs, reddish hind legs and abdomen, and metallic green carapace—features that also help separate it from other members of Psalmopoeus.

Natural Habitat

In the wild, Psalmopoeus victori is found in the humid forests of Veracruz, on the eastern slopes of Mexico’s Sierra Madre Oriental. These are montane cloud and tropical forests, where temperatures are mild (around 20–24 °C / 68–75 °F) and humidity stays very high, often 80–95%.

This is a fully arboreal species that spends most of its life off the ground, living in natural cavities in tree trunks, under loose bark, in rotting logs, and occasionally among bromeliads and dense epiphytes several meters above the forest floor. There it builds silk-lined retreats with multiple exits, using the heavy shade, constant moisture, and good airflow of the canopy to stay hidden and ambush passing prey.

Much of Veracruz’s native cloud forest has been heavily fragmented by agriculture and development, making the remaining patches of mature, moist forest especially important for this species and many other endemic animals and plants.

Husbandry Notes:

Given name: Nihlus

Sex: Undetermined

Life stage: Sub-adult

• Approximately 4.5 in

• Steady growth

• Fast and a bit twitchy

• Consistent eater

Psalmopoeus cambridgei

• Common name: Trinidad Chevron Tarantula

• Scientific name: Psalmopoeus cambridgei

• Origin: Tropical rainforests of Trinidad (Trinidad & Tobago)

• Lifestyle: New World semi-arboreal/arboreal species that webs up vertical hides (loose bark, crevices, plants) and hunts at night

• Adult size:

  • Females: ~5–7" (12–18 cm) diagonal leg span

  • Males: ~5" (12–14 cm) diagonal leg span, more slender

• Growth rate: Fast – spiderlings can reach maturity in roughly 1–2+ years with good feeding; males often mature sooner

• Temperament: Very quick and reactive; usually shy but can be defensive if pressured. No urticating hairs, relies on speed and classic Psalmopoeus threat postures

• Color & appearance:

  • Females: mossy olive-green to brown body, bold dark chevrons on the abdomen, and bright orange/red highlights on the lower legs

  • Males: leggier and slimmer, with more muted grey-brown coloration and less vivid patterning

Species History

Psalmopoeus cambridgei was first described in 1895 by British arachnologist Reginald Innes Pocock, based on a female specimen that would become the type species for the entire genus Psalmopoeus. The species name cambridgei honors fellow arachnologist Frederick Octavius Pickard-Cambridge.

Early literature even mis-reported its origin as Malaysia or the “East Indies,” but later taxonomic work clarified that this tarantula is native to the Caribbean island nation of Trinidad and Tobago, where it inhabits warm, humid tropical forests as an arboreal predator. Over time, it has played an important role in theraphosid systematics: as the defining species of Psalmopoeus, it helped anchor the group now placed in the subfamily Psalmopoeinae.

Psalmopoeus cambridgei entered the pet trade several decades ago and is now regarded as a classic “old-school” arboreal tarantula—hardy, fast-growing, and regularly bred in captivity, which has reduced pressure on wild populations. Its venom has also attracted scientific interest because it contains peptides such as psalmotoxin, investigated for potential neurological and cardiovascular applications.

Natural Habitat

Psalmopoeus cambridgei is native to the warm, humid lowland rainforests of Trinidad, especially the Northern Range, where temperatures stay around the high 70s–80s°F (mid-20s °C) with consistently high humidity. This species is semi-arboreal to arboreal, living on tree trunks and vertical surfaces rather than on the forest floor. In the wild it tucks itself behind loose bark, in rot holes and epiphytes, or in silken tube webs built in sheltered cracks—including occasionally on undisturbed man-made walls and banks.

Mostly nocturnal, P. cambridgei emerges at night to ambush passing invertebrates and small vertebrates, using its cryptic green-brown camouflage to blend into mossy bark.

Our Specimen:

Given name: Almond

Sex: Undetermined, possible female

Life stage: Sub-adult

Approximately 4.25 in

• Steady growth

• Fast and a bit twitchy; escape artist

• Typically near its burrow but periodically on display

Our Specimen:

Given name: Cashew

Sex: TBD

Life stage: Juvenile

• New addition to our collection

Psalmopoeus irminia

• Common Name: Venezuelan Suntiger

• Scientific Name: Psalmopoeus irminia

• Origin: Venezuela, northern Guyana & northern Brazil (New World)

• Lifestyle / Type: Arboreal, fast-moving ambush predator; heavy webber, no urticating hairs

• Adult Size: ~5–6" (13–15 cm) diagonal leg span

• Growth Rate: Fast; typically reaches maturity in ~2–3 years with good feeding

• Temperament: Nervous and defensive; very quick, not recommended for beginners, better as a display species than a handling species

• Color & Appearance:

  • Jet-black to charcoal body

  • Bright orange chevrons on legs and “tiger stripe” bands on abdomen

  • Females stay dark and boldly patterned; mature males become leggier and much less colorful

Species History

Psalmopoeus irminia was only relatively recently introduced to science, which makes its story quite different from many of the “classic” tarantulas in the hobby. The species was first collected in southern Venezuela in the early 1990s, with field observations from the Gran Sabana and surrounding Guyana Shield region (around San Ignacio, Santa Elena, and the Roraima-Tepui area). German arachnologist F. Saager formally described it in 1994, giving it the scientific name Psalmopoeus irminia and placing it in the arboreal genus Psalmopoeus within the family Theraphosidae.

In nature, P. irminia is an agile, tree-dwelling species found in moist forest habitats of Venezuela, Guyana and parts of northern Brazil. It typically shelters in natural cavities, crevices and vegetation several feet above the ground. Reports from field work in Venezuelan highland and cloud-forest environments suggest it occurs at mid-elevations, where high humidity and dense vegetation provide ideal conditions for an arboreal predator.

The species quickly caught the attention of keepers thanks to its striking appearance: a dark, almost velvety body contrasted with vivid orange chevrons on the legs and “tiger-stripe” markings on the abdomen—hence the common name “Venezuelan Suntiger.” By the late 1990s and early 2000s it was becoming established in the European and North American hobby through captive-bred stock, and it’s now considered a staple arboreal species for keepers who appreciate bold coloration and speed but are comfortable with a more defensive temperament.

Natural Habitat

The Venezuelan Suntiger (Psalmopoeus irminia) is an arboreal tarantula from the humid tropical forests of Venezuela, Guyana and northern Brazil. In the wild, it lives on trees in dense, lush vegetation, often hiding in natural cavities, under loose bark or among bromeliads several feet above the ground. These forests are warm year-round, with temperatures typically in the mid-20s °C (mid-70s to low-80s °F) and consistently high humidity, providing a dim, moist microclimate that this fast, secretive predator uses to ambush passing insects.

Our Specimen:

Given name: Solana

Sex: Female

Life stage: Adult

• Approximately 6 in

• One of my first tarantulas and one of my favorites.

• Excellent eater

• Commonly out and about, showing off her beautiful coloration

Psalmopoeus pulcher

• Common name: Panama Blonde Tarantula

• Origin: New World arboreal species from the tropical rainforests of Panama (Central America)

• Lifestyle: Arboreal, fast, tube-webbing tarantula that uses vertical structures (tree cavities, bark, cork tubes) as retreats and ambush points

• Adult size: Approximately 13–15 cm (5–6 in) leg span at maturity

• Growth rate: Fast-growing; slings reach juvenile and subadult sizes relatively quickly compared with many terrestrial species

• Temperament: Typically defensive and very quick; more likely to bolt or threat-pose than tolerate disturbance. Best treated as a display animal rather than a handling species.

• Color & appearance:

  • Overall golden-blonde to beige coloration with a pale carapace

  • Darker markings or a subtle stripe on the abdomen, with slightly darker femurs (especially in juveniles)

  • Adult females tend to show richer beige/gold tones, while males are more slender and grayish

Species History

Psalmopoeus pulcher, commonly known as the Panama blonde tarantula, was first described in 1925 by arachnologist Alexander Petrunkevitch based on specimens collected in Panama. It belongs to the New World, arboreal genus Psalmopoeus, a group of fast, tree-dwelling tarantulas distributed through Central and northern South America.

For many years P. pulcher was poorly known in the scientific literature, with the original description focusing on the male and leaving the female undescribed until later taxonomic work revisited the species in detail. Subsequent revisions also clarified its synonymy, confirming that the name Psalmopoeus rufus refers to the same species and should be treated as a synonym of P. pulcher.

In nature, Psalmopoeus pulcher is found primarily in Panama and parts of Colombia, where it inhabits warm, humid forest habitats and takes advantage of natural cavities and vertical structures for refuge. With its striking golden-blonde coloration and relatively moderate size, the species became established in the tarantula hobby in the late 20th century and is now commonly bred in captivity, helping to reduce collection pressure on wild populations.

Natural Habitat

In the wild, Psalmopoeus pulcher is an arboreal tarantula from the tropical rainforests of Panama, with some records extending into neighboring Colombia. It lives off the ground in warm, humid forest zones where temperatures typically sit in the mid-20s °C (mid-70s to mid-80s °F) and humidity remains high year-round.

These spiders use natural vertical structures as anchor points, establishing silk retreats in tree cavities, under loose bark, and in crevices of wood or dense foliage. Juveniles may make more use of lower cover and webbed “tube” hides near the forest floor, gradually adopting a more fully arboreal lifestyle as they mature. This microhabitat provides stable humidity, shade, and easy access to passing insect prey—conditions we aim to mirror in captivity.

Our Specimen:

Given name: Lottie

Sex: Female

Life stage: Sub-adult

• Approximately 4.5 in

• Steady growth

• Relatively calm but can be a little twitchy

• Consistent eater

• Typically behind her cork bark but comes out periodically

Psalmopoeus reduncus

• Common name: Costa Rican Orange Mouth Tarantula

• Origin: Central America, with confirmed populations in Nicaragua and long association with Costa Rica and surrounding regions.

• Lifestyle: New World arboreal species; lives off the ground in tree hollows, under loose bark, and in heavy vegetation, where it builds silken retreats.

• Adult size: Around 12–13 cm (4.5–5 in) legspan, females reaching roughly 6 cm body length.

• Growth rate: Fast-growing; reaches maturity relatively quickly compared with many terrestrial New World species.

• Temperament: Defensive and very quick; not considered a beginner species and will readily bolt or stand its ground if disturbed. No urticating hairs, so it relies on speed and threat posture.

• Color & appearance:

  • Overall deep brown to chestnut body with slightly darker legs

  • Carapace often shows a subtle golden or bronze sheen

  • Distinctive orange to rusty hairs around the chelicerae (“orange mouth”)

  • Long, sleek legs and a lightly fuzzy appearance typical of Psalmopoeus arboreals

Species History

Psalmopoeus reduncus is a medium-sized arboreal tarantula from Central America, commonly known in the hobby as the Costa Rican orange mouth tarantula. It was originally described in 1880 by German arachnologist Ferdinand Karsch as Tapinauchenius reduncus, and later moved into the genus Psalmopoeus by Eugène Simon in 1903.

Throughout the 20th century the species was redescribed several times as more material became available, most notably by Valerio (1979), who reviewed its morphology and discussed how such arboreal theraphosids might disperse through Central America. Later, Gabriel (2008) documented specimens from Panama, helping cement P. reduncus as one of the characteristic Psalmopoeus in the region. These spiders are distinguished by their chestnut-brown bodies, fast arboreal lifestyle, and the orange hairs around the chelicerae that inspired their common name.

In recent years, detailed taxonomic work on the “reduncus group” has refined how narrowly P. reduncus is defined. A major revision in 2022 temporarily treated the related Psalmopoeus intermedius as a synonym of P. reduncus, but subsequent studies have re-validated P. intermedius as a separate species and adjusted the map for P. reduncus. Modern catalogues now list its confirmed distribution primarily in Nicaragua, while older literature and hobby usage also associate the name with populations from Costa Rica and Panama—animals that ongoing research is working to place more precisely.

In captivity, P. reduncus has become a long-established “classic” Psalmopoeus in the tarantula hobby, appreciated for its fast growth, striking orange mouthparts, and typical New World arboreal behavior, even as science continues to fine-tune exactly which Central American populations truly belong to this name.

Natural Habitat

Psalmopoeus reduncus is a strictly arboreal tarantula from the humid tropical forests of Central America, historically associated with Costa Rica and neighboring regions and now confirmed by recent taxonomic work at least from Nicaragua. It lives in warm, moist lowland and foothill forest, where temperatures are generally in the low- to mid-20s °C year-round, with pronounced wet and dry seasons.

In the wild these spiders spend most of their lives off the ground, sheltering in natural cavities such as tree hollows, gaps under loose bark, dense root tangles and heavy vegetation, then lining these retreats with thick silk. From these hidden web tunnels they ambush passing insects and other small invertebrates during dusk and at night, remaining secretive and rarely venturing far from cover.

Our Specimen

Given Name: TBD

Sex: Female

Life stage: juvenile

• New addition to our collection