When it comes to spiders, many people are often confused between the tarantula and the wolf spider. While they may look similar, they are actually quite different animals and can even be found in different parts of the world. Understanding the differences between these two spiders can help you identify them correctly.
from wikipedia Wolf Spider
Tarantula spiders have larger, more robust bodies than wolf spiders, and their legs and body are covered in longer hairs. They also have longer legs and are usually found in habitats with more vegetation, like jungles, deserts, and forests. The venom of a tarantula is not usually considered to be dangerous to humans.Tarantulas are large, hairy spiders that are found primarily in the tropics and subtropics of the world. They range in size from about 5 cm to 30 cm and have long, thick legs. They can be found in a wide variety of colors, including black, brown, and even pink. They are usually nocturnal and hunt their prey by ambushing them. Tarantulas have long fangs and poisonous venom, though their venom is not as dangerous to humans as other species of spider.
from wikipedia Tarantula native to the Mojave Desert searches for a burrow.
Wolf spiders, on the other hand, are much smaller than tarantulas and range in size from about 2 cm to 25 cm. They are usually brown in color and have a unique pattern of stripes on their abdomen. Wolf spiders do not have fangs and thus do not have venom, but they do have strong jaws with which they can catch and eat their prey. They are active hunters, meaning they chase down their prey rather than ambushing
ｆｒｏｍ insectekpest wolf-spiders
Tarantula spiders have larger, more robust bodies than wolf spiders, and their legs and body are covered in longer hairs. They also have longer legs and are usually found in habitats with more vegetation, like jungles, deserts, and forests. The venom of a tarantula is not usually considered to be dangerous to humans.
Wolf spiders, on the other hand, are smaller and have short hairs covering their bodies. They are usually found in open habitats like fields and meadows, and their venom can be dangerous to humans. Wolf spiders also have longer legs and can move quickly, making them better adapted for hunting.
Jean And Fred Hort/Flickr A wolf spider
Tarantula spiders have large, hairy bodies and can range in color from brown to black. They have eight eyes arranged in two rows and have spinnerets at the end of their abdomens. Wolf spiders are usually dark brown or gray in color and have a distinct pattern of markings on their bodies. They have eight eyes arranged in three rows and lack the spinnerets at the end of their abdomens that tarantulas have.
Wolf Spider vs Tarantula is a battle of two of the most formidable predators in the arachnid world. The Wolf Spider is a large, fast-moving hunter that is found in many parts of the world. It has excellent eyesight and can easily take down prey with its powerful jaws. The Tarantula is a larger, slower-moving predator that is native to tropical and subtropical regions. It uses venom to paralyze its prey before it devours it.
Photo by Marino Linic on Unsplash
In a fight between a Wolf Spider and a Tarantula, the Wolf Spider would likely come out on top. It is faster, more agile and has superior eyesight. It can also use its powerful jaws to take down the Tarantula before it can even strike. The Tarantula, on the other hand, is slower and may not be able to get close enough to the Wolf Spider to deliver a deadly bite.
The wolf spider is more dangerous than the tarantula, as it is more likely to bite if disturbed. Wolf spiders are also more aggressive and can deliver a more painful bite than the tarantula.
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2 comments
Jack, while correct in that Linnaeus defined the Lycosa sp. tarantula, it was only because the locality. He took the tarantula name from the practices and cultural references where the spider was located and the lore around the locality’s talk and dances that stem from that species. Theraphosidae is a split between “true spiders” and others. Under Theraphosidae you have your spiders named Tarantulas because of the discovery of the “Goliath Bird Eating Spider”, everybody started calling them Tarantulas because it sounds better for a large well known species, even though they’re NOT genus or species “tarantula”. Theraphosa stirmi (T. sp. stirmi), the largest and most robust built spider on the planet is massive with up to 2.5CM chelicerae. T. apophysis is the OG Burgundy Goliath Bird Eater even though apophysis is mostly always terrestrial, not arboreal (not in the trees or above maybe a foot off the ground. A fall of that sp. or even the stirmi would result in death. They would have abdominal rupture leaking haemolymph and death. The ones to watch out for in the Theraphosidae family is the Poecilotheria sp. because they ARE arboreal and are in the trees and rarely on the ground. Giant, leggy, and have a medically significant venom to humans, causing nerve conduction issues and slight heart palpitations. If you have pre-existing conditions, especially nerve or cardiac, DO NOT HOME THESE AS PETS. They are FAST, VERY large, and are slightly more aggressive than any other species (except the P. murinus. OBT/Orange Bitey Thing/Orange Baboon Tarantula). < This species is highly defensive and not for a beginner sp. at ALL.
Tarantulas are wolf spiders! While there are species of spider known as tarantula that are not related to wolf spiders, the original bearer of the name ‘tarantula’ was the species Lycosa Tarantula, a type of wolf spider.