Lycosa tarantula is the species originally known as the tarantula, a name that nowadays in English commonly refers to spiders in another family entirely, the Theraphosidae. It now may be better called the tarantula wolf spider, being in the wolf spider family, the Lycosidae. L. tarantula is a large species found in southern Europe, especially in the Apulia region of Italy and near the city of Taranto, from which it gets its name.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it venomous or poisonous?
We have no record of Tarantula wolf spider being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
- Lycosa hispanica
- Lycosa praegrandis
- Geolycosa vultuosa
- Lycosa fasciiventris
- Hogna carolinensis
- Portacosa cinerea
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae
- Family
- Lycosidae
- Genus
- Lycosa
- Species
- Lycosa tarantula
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