Colombian giant tarantula
Megaphobema robustum
Megaphobema robustum, known as the Colombian giant tarantula or Colombian giant redleg, was first described by Anton Ausserer in 1875. Found in the tropical rainforests of Colombia and Brazil near logs, it has a span of 6 to 8 inches and will eat crickets, other large insects, small lizards, and mice.
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Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megaphobema_robustum
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Arachnida
Order
Araneae
Family
Theraphosidae
Genus
Megaphobema
Colombian giant tarantula belongs to the family Theraphosidae, order Araneae, within the Arachnida class.
Species Profile
Megaphobema robustum, known as the Colombian giant tarantula or Colombian giant redleg, was first described by Anton Ausserer in 1875. Found in the tropical rainforests of Colombia and Brazil near logs, it has a span of 6 to 8 inches and will eat crickets, other large insects, small lizards, and mice.
The Colombian giant tarantula faces significant pressure from habitat destruction due to deforestation and agricultural expansion in Colombia's tropical regions. Collection for the international pet trade and human persecution due to fear and misunderstanding further threaten populations of this large arachnid.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Inhabits tropical moist forests and cloud forests in the Colombian Andes, typically found in burrows or under logs and rocks in humid montane environments between 1,000-2,500m elevation. The species prefers areas with dense vegetation cover and high humidity levels characteristic of Colombia's mountainous regions.
Threats
Agricultural land conversion
Habitat loss from deforestation
Collection for pet trade
Human persecution and killing
Urban development
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Colombian giant tarantula (Megaphobema robustum). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/colombian-giant-tarantula