Haplopelma albostriatum
Encyclopedia
Haplopelma albostriatum is a moderately large terrestrial tarantula
species from Thailand
, Cambodia
and Malaysia (rainforest
areas) which spends most of its time in a burrow. This species's name comes from the Latin Greek prefix albo, meaning white, and the Latin
word , meaning lines or striped. This species has white stripes going down each leg, and a white zig-zag pattern on its opisthosoma
(abdomen). These patterns on a black background have earned it the common name "Thai zebra tarantula". This tarantula is very skittish and defensive, although it can also be very aggressive. It is an Old World tarantula and, therefore, has no urticating hair
s. So, its only defenses are biting and fleeing. This tarantula is known to have venom that is more potent than that of many tarantula species. This species is fried up and served for eight cents each on the streets of Cambodia. Tarantulas are very high in protein.
Tarantula
Tarantulas comprise a group of often hairy and often very large arachnids belonging to the family Theraphosidae, of which approximately 900 species have been identified. Some members of the same Suborder may also be called "tarantulas" in the common parlance. This article will restrict itself to...
species from Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
and Malaysia (rainforest
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
areas) which spends most of its time in a burrow. This species's name comes from the Latin Greek prefix albo, meaning white, and the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
word , meaning lines or striped. This species has white stripes going down each leg, and a white zig-zag pattern on its opisthosoma
Opisthosoma
The opisthosoma is the posterior part of the body in some arthropods, behind the prosoma . It is a distinctive feature of the subphylum Chelicerata...
(abdomen). These patterns on a black background have earned it the common name "Thai zebra tarantula". This tarantula is very skittish and defensive, although it can also be very aggressive. It is an Old World tarantula and, therefore, has no urticating hair
Urticating hair
Urticating hairs, i.e. stinging hairs, are one of the primary defense mechanisms used by numerous plants, some New World tarantulas, and various lepidopteran caterpillars. Urtica is Latin for "nettle", and hairs that urticate are characteristic of this type of plant, and many other plants in...
s. So, its only defenses are biting and fleeing. This tarantula is known to have venom that is more potent than that of many tarantula species. This species is fried up and served for eight cents each on the streets of Cambodia. Tarantulas are very high in protein.