Red Knee Tarantula

Red Knee Tarantula:  Brachypelma smithi (common name the Mexican Red-kneed Tarantula), is a terrestrial tarantula native to the western faces of the Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre del Sur mountain ranges in Mexico. They are a large species, and are a popular choice for enthusiasts. Like most tarantulas, they live a very long life. The mature Brachypelma Smithi has a dark-colored body with orange patches on the joints of its legs, the second element of the legs (the trochanter) is orange-red.

Following molting, the colors are more pronounced. The dark portion is very black while the orange-red portions will be far more on the reddish side. An adult female has a body roughly 4 inches long, with a leg span of 6 inches, and a mass of approximately 15 grams. Both sexes are similar in appearance, with the male having a somewhat smaller body, but longer legs. Thus the male is of comparable size to the female, but has a significantly smaller mass.

 Red Knee Tarantula

 Red Knee Tarantula

 Red Knee Tarantula

Red Knee Tarantula