Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Where do tarantulas ACTUALLY live in the wild? On Day 1 of our Mexico expedition, we set out to find one of the most elusive CITES-listed tarantulas—Brachypelma albiceps, the Golden Redrump—in its natural habitat. What happened next reminded us why searching for wild tarantulas is never predictable.
Spoiler: We didn't find the albiceps. But what we DID find was even more incredible.
🕷️ SPECIES FEATURED IN THIS VIDEO:
- Brachypelma albiceps (Golden Redrump Tarantula) — The target species. Endemic to Central Mexico across Morelos, Puebla, Estado de Mexico, and Guerrero. Known for its stunning golden-yellow carapace and black legs with scattered red hairs. CITES Appendix II listed.
- Aphonopelma sp. "Diamond Back" — A beautiful undescribed species we encountered unexpectedly
- Bonnetina sp. — Members of a genus endemic to central-southern Mexico, typically found under stones in shallow retreats
📍 HABITAT & LOCATION:
We searched the Balsas Dry Forests ecoregion—a tropical deciduous forest with a severe dry season lasting up to 8 months. This isolated ecosystem is a biodiversity hotspot with high endemism, home to species found nowhere else on Earth.
Why is B. albiceps so hard to find? Unlike many tarantulas, Brachypelma species leave NO silk at their burrow entrances. There's literally no indication a spider is inside until you've fully excavated the burrow. They build under large rocks, tree roots, and dense thorn thickets—often in areas that look completely unremarkable.
🔬 THE SCIENCE:
Every specimen observation contributes to understanding wild population status—critical data for a genus where over 39,000 specimens were traded internationally between 2007-2016.
Fun fact: Bonnetina activity is remarkably seasonal. Depending on time of year, researchers commonly fail to find ANY specimens in locations where high population densities existed just months before. During unfavorable conditions, these spiders bury themselves deep in the ground.
📚 TARANTULA FACTS FROM THIS VIDEO:
- Brachypelma species are found between 10-1,700m elevation
- B. albiceps burrows occur in dense thickets or dry thorn forests
- Males mature in 7-8 years; females in 9-10 years, then live 10+ more
- Mating season: September to January (end of rainy/start of dry season)
- West coast species males wander during daylight; central/east species at night
🌿 CONSERVATION NOTE:
All Brachypelma species are CITES Appendix II listed. 96% of internationally traded specimens are captive-bred. This series documents wild populations to support ongoing conservation research and IUCN Red List assessments—not collection. We observe, film, and leave everything exactly as we found it.
👇 FOR TARANTULA KEEPERS:
If you keep B. albiceps, B. smithi, B. hamorii, or any Mexican species, this is what their ancestors' home looks like. The dry thorn forests, the rocky hillsides, the seasonal rhythms that shaped their biology over millions of years. Understanding where tarantulas live in the wild makes us better keepers.
🎬 THIS SERIES:
We're documenting multiple Brachypelma and Mexican tarantula species across their native range. Each episode explores different habitat types, from Pacific coastal thorn scrub to highland oak forests. Subscribe to follow the complete expedition.
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#tarantula #tarantulahabitat #wheretoarantulslive #tarantulaspecies #brachypelma #pettarantula #tarantulafacts #mexicotarantula #wildlifedocumentary #tarantulacare #bonnetina #aphonopelma #tarantulakeeper #exoticpets #arachnid
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📖 REFERENCES & FURTHER READING:
- Mendoza & Francke (2020) "Systematic revision of Brachypelma" — Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society
- Ortiz & Francke (2017) "Revision of Bonnetina tarantulas" — Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society
- CEC (2017) "Sustainable Trade in Tarantulas: Action Plan for North America"
- CITES Identification Guide: Tarantulas
🎵 Music licensed via Epidemic Sound
Visit Our Website
https://www.birdspiders.ch
Enjoy Our Podcast with TarantulaKat
https://anchor.fm/bothworldtarantulas
Support This Project!
patreon.com/birdspiders
Find Us On Facebook
facebook.com/birdspidersCH
Taxonomy & Systematics Group - Arácnido
facebook.com/groups/1149292842136929
Wild Spiders & Tarantula Group
facebook.com/groups/933372297053034
#tarantulas
#wild_tarantulas
#lovetarantulas
Where do tarantulas ACTUALLY live in the wild? On Day 1 of our Mexico expedition, we set out to find one of the most elusive CITES-listed tarantulas—Brachypelma albiceps, the Golden Redrump—in its natural habitat. What happened next reminded us why searching for wild tarantulas is never predictable.
Spoiler: We didn't find the albiceps. But what we DID find was even more incredible.
🕷️ SPECIES FEATURED IN THIS VIDEO:
- Brachypelma albiceps (Golden Redrump Tarantula) — The target species. Endemic to Central Mexico across Morelos, Puebla, Estado de Mexico, and Guerrero. Known for its stunning golden-yellow carapace and black legs with scattered red hairs. CITES Appendix II listed.
- Aphonopelma sp. "Diamond Back" — A beautiful undescribed species we encountered unexpectedly
- Bonnetina sp. — Members of a genus endemic to central-southern Mexico, typically found under stones in shallow retreats
📍 HABITAT & LOCATION:
We searched the Balsas Dry Forests ecoregion—a tropical deciduous forest with a severe dry season lasting up to 8 months. This isolated ecosystem is a biodiversity hotspot with high endemism, home to species found nowhere else on Earth.
Why is B. albiceps so hard to find? Unlike many tarantulas, Brachypelma species leave NO silk at their burrow entrances. There's literally no indication a spider is inside until you've fully excavated the burrow. They build under large rocks, tree roots, and dense thorn thickets—often in areas that look completely unremarkable.
🔬 THE SCIENCE:
Every specimen observation contributes to understanding wild population status—critical data for a genus where over 39,000 specimens were traded internationally between 2007-2016.
Fun fact: Bonnetina activity is remarkably seasonal. Depending on time of year, researchers commonly fail to find ANY specimens in locations where high population densities existed just months before. During unfavorable conditions, these spiders bury themselves deep in the ground.
📚 TARANTULA FACTS FROM THIS VIDEO:
- Brachypelma species are found between 10-1,700m elevation
- B. albiceps burrows occur in dense thickets or dry thorn forests
- Males mature in 7-8 years; females in 9-10 years, then live 10+ more
- Mating season: September to January (end of rainy/start of dry season)
- West coast species males wander during daylight; central/east species at night
🌿 CONSERVATION NOTE:
All Brachypelma species are CITES Appendix II listed. 96% of internationally traded specimens are captive-bred. This series documents wild populations to support ongoing conservation research and IUCN Red List assessments—not collection. We observe, film, and leave everything exactly as we found it.
👇 FOR TARANTULA KEEPERS:
If you keep B. albiceps, B. smithi, B. hamorii, or any Mexican species, this is what their ancestors' home looks like. The dry thorn forests, the rocky hillsides, the seasonal rhythms that shaped their biology over millions of years. Understanding where tarantulas live in the wild makes us better keepers.
🎬 THIS SERIES:
We're documenting multiple Brachypelma and Mexican tarantula species across their native range. Each episode explores different habitat types, from Pacific coastal thorn scrub to highland oak forests. Subscribe to follow the complete expedition.
——————————————————
#tarantula #tarantulahabitat #wheretoarantulslive #tarantulaspecies #brachypelma #pettarantula #tarantulafacts #mexicotarantula #wildlifedocumentary #tarantulacare #bonnetina #aphonopelma #tarantulakeeper #exoticpets #arachnid
——————————————————
📖 REFERENCES & FURTHER READING:
- Mendoza & Francke (2020) "Systematic revision of Brachypelma" — Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society
- Ortiz & Francke (2017) "Revision of Bonnetina tarantulas" — Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society
- CEC (2017) "Sustainable Trade in Tarantulas: Action Plan for North America"
- CITES Identification Guide: Tarantulas
🎵 Music licensed via Epidemic Sound
Visit Our Website
https://www.birdspiders.ch
Enjoy Our Podcast with TarantulaKat
https://anchor.fm/bothworldtarantulas
Support This Project!
patreon.com/birdspiders
Find Us On Facebook
facebook.com/birdspidersCH
Taxonomy & Systematics Group - Arácnido
facebook.com/groups/1149292842136929
Wild Spiders & Tarantula Group
facebook.com/groups/933372297053034
#tarantulas
#wild_tarantulas
#lovetarantulas
