I have a tremendous soft spot for creatures that are misunderstood and therefore hated. That's why I keep a lot of the animals I do. They get a bad rap, and I enjoy tell people what makes them wonderful. Kind of like how we spend our energy here correcting fake news about conservatives.
There are quite a few of them (tarantulas) in central Texas and further south. Don't see many of them in north Texas.
Several years ago, took some time off and was basically just hanging out at a friends lake house for a few weeks and they would come out very late afternoon, evening in the summertime. Pretty timid things actually. At least whatever species these were. They were dark brown.
Well they were hunting, just not for food. Tarantulas have very poor eyesight, very primitive brains, and very slow metabolisms. They can go quite long without food. That's why they're most successful when they just stay home and protect themselves. They're some of the most "get off my property" animals around.
I'm sure it was a total buffet for the roadrunners. Live is pretty hard and short for male tarantulas.
I have a tremendous soft spot for creatures that are misunderstood and therefore hated. That's why I keep a lot of the animals I do. They get a bad rap, and I enjoy tell people what makes them wonderful. Kind of like how we spend our energy here correcting fake news about conservatives.
My sister had one named Rocky for a brief time. I've found I'm much more into aquariums, reptiles, and invertebrates.
White's tree frogs are wonderful! I'd love to get one at some point. I think they're adorable.
There are quite a few of them (tarantulas) in central Texas and further south. Don't see many of them in north Texas.
Several years ago, took some time off and was basically just hanging out at a friends lake house for a few weeks and they would come out very late afternoon, evening in the summertime. Pretty timid things actually. At least whatever species these were. They were dark brown.
Those are all males trying to find a lady to breed with before they die. Females and juvenile males tend not to stray too far from their burrows.
The species you saw was likely Aphonopelma hentzi. Mature males of the species tend to be much darker than females and juveniles.
I always (incorrectly) assumed they were hunting. I guess most tarantulas sit in a hole and wait for something to move in front of it.
They would be all over and the roadrunners were getting after them.
Well they were hunting, just not for food. Tarantulas have very poor eyesight, very primitive brains, and very slow metabolisms. They can go quite long without food. That's why they're most successful when they just stay home and protect themselves. They're some of the most "get off my property" animals around.
I'm sure it was a total buffet for the roadrunners. Live is pretty hard and short for male tarantulas.