Explore wildlife like a naturalist in the field

Mexican redknee tarantulas are famous for orange-red bands that look painted onto their dark knee joints.

When worried, they can flick tiny itchy hairs from the abdomen instead of biting first.

Females can live for decades, while adult males usually live only one mating season.

Scientists now call the common pet-trade Mexican redknee Brachypelma hamorii; older books often said B. smithi.

They spend daylight hours in silk-lined burrows and come out mostly at night.

A tarantula must molt—shed its old exoskeleton—to grow bigger and repair damage.