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Giant Purple Tarantula

Pamphobeteus sp.

Photo by Andreas Kay
Published on Project Noah
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0.783195, -78.1623

Field Notes

Description:

about the size of a hand, the color of the legs is only apparent at certain viewing angles (iridescence)

Habitat:

spotted in a cloud forest at 2000 m

Reference Links:

Pamphobeteus

Species ID Suggestions

tarantula

Pamphobeteus
sjl197v2
1

Comments (14)
Caleb Steindel
sjl97v2, could you please remove your suggestion? The spotting has already been identified.
KarenL
Fun fact! Tarantulas have retractable claws on each leg. Falls can prove fatal for them because they have very thin skin, and even a fall from a short height can rupture their exoskeleton. Though most tarantulas spend most of their time on the ground, they sometimes climb trees and are able to get a better grasp by extending special claws at the end of each leg. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152904851560603&set=a.10152575329380603.958289.10150120463815603&type=1 https://twitter.com/projectnoah/status/344919024322347009
hg_williams3
Very cool the associated video also makes it extremely cool
MartinL
This is spectacular Andreas. I agree it is certainly Pamphobeteus. Only the males have purple legs.
LeanneGardner
Wow! Wow! Wow! Well done Andreas. Your spotting is amazing! Love the video too :)
João Burini
Probably a Pamphobeteus species. http://www.insectaculture.com/pantinous.htm
Andreas Kay
Thanks for the ID suggestion Jason. Avicularia purpurea is native of the Amazonas region of Ecuador, while I spotted this one in the Choco region west of the Andes, in rather cold cloud forest at 2000 m.
Tiz
IIiiih! Lovely! Cant make up my mind, I think I am happy you were the spotter, not me :) Great movie added!!

Spotted for Missions

Mission
International Spider Survey
Mission
The Color Blue
Mission
2013 Best Wildlife Photo
Mission
Mission WILD
Mission
National Geographic's Great Nature Project

Tags

Photographed
PublishedJune 10, 2013

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