Burgundy Skeleton Tarantula

Scientific name: Ephebopus rufescens

The basics:
The Burgundy Skeleton Tarantula is a terrestrial tarantula which is native to French Guiana in South America.

Appearance / health:
Adults reach roughly 5" upon maturity for females, with males maturing slightly smaller. They are an overall rust brown in appearance with thin yellow bands at each tarsal segment.

Behavior / temperament:
Fast, skittish and very defensive. These will not hesitate to rear up in threat display or bite if provoked. Handling is not advised, as it also possesses medically significant venom.

Housing:
Medium terrestrial enclosure with ample room to burrow. This is a challenging species to care for, as it requires high humidity, and must be given several inches of substrate to construct a burrow. If the environment is allowed to dry out, the animal will most likely die.

Diet:
Invertebrates smaller than itself - crickets, roaches, mealworms.

Breeding:
Somewhat challenging.