Mini Tarantula

Comanche Grasslands, LaJunta, CO United States - September 26, 2021: An Oklahoma Brown Tarantula stares up at my camera from the gravel road. In this image one can easily see their 8 legs, 2 pedipalps and 2 chelicerae. The chelicerae contain fangs and venom, and the pedipalps are used for feelers.

Wait! Don't Shoot...I Surrender!

Comanche Grasslands, LaJunta, CO United States - October 02, 2021: An Oklahoma Brown Tarantula raises its legs as if to surrender. The two small appendages that he appears to be standing on are his spinnerets, his silk spinning organ.

From Home Page Collection

Looking for Love

Comanche Grasslands, LaJunta, CO United States - October 02, 2021: This Oklahoma Brown Tarantula male is on a quest to find a mate. Here you can easily see his 8 legs, 2 pedipalps and 2 chelicerae. The dot behind the chelicerae are his eyes, 8 tiny eyeballs to be exact.

Comanche Grasslands, LaJunta, CO United States - October 02, 2021: Oklahoma Brown Tarantula males gain sexual maturity around 8-10 years of age. When the hormones begin rumbling, the males start their "migration" looking for the females with whom to breed. It's only during this time that these little spiders come out of their burrows in the grasslands, and become vulnerable to predators including the Tarantula Hawk - a beautifully colored Spider Wasp that preys upon these arachnids for food and egg laying. Moving slowly across the roads, many are also killed by vehicles.

From Home Page Collection

Navigating obstacles

Comanche Grasslands, LaJunta, CO United States - October 02, 2021: An Oklahoma Brown Tarantula crawls over a wooden log on his way to find the girls.

Hey! I'm up here!!

Comanche Grasslands, LaJunta, CO United States - October 02, 2021: An Oklahoma Brown Tarantula appears to be waving at me from the log he is climbing over.

"I'm ready to take you on!"

Comanche Grasslands, LaJunta, CO United States - October 02, 2021: An Oklahoma Brown Tarantula raises its legs in defense.