About Aphonopelma hentzi (Girard, 1852)
The Texas brown tarantula, scientifically named Aphonopelma hentzi, is also commonly called the Oklahoma brown tarantula or Missouri tarantula. It is one of the most common tarantula species currently found in the Southern United States. Adult Texas brown tarantulas can reach leg spans over 10 cm (4 in), and weigh more than 85 g (3 oz). Their bodies are dark brown, but individual tarantulas can vary in shade. Like many arthropods, their colors are more distinct directly after a molt. Mature males develop black legs and a copper-colored carapace. Immature tarantulas and mature males have many shades of brown, with considerable variation in grey and red tones. The distribution of A. hentzi covers the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Arizona, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana. The species has also been recorded in northern Mexico, extending along the borders of New Mexico and Texas. A. hentzi is a terrestrial species that is most commonly found in grasslands. It burrows underground, or uses logs, stones, or abandoned dens left by other small animals as its homes and feeding grounds. Texas brown tarantulas use their spinnerets to line the entrance of their shelters with webbing, which helps them detect passing prey.
