The post Discover the Nine-Inch Giants and Star Wars Ewok Tarantulas That Inhabit Peru<\/a> appeared first on A-Z Animals<\/a>.<\/p>\n Genera such as Antikuna<\/strong> and Bistriopelma<\/strong> are high-elevation<\/strong>, cold-weather-adapted tarantulas found in the Peruvian Andes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Pamphobeteus<\/strong> spiders can reach very large sizes, with body lengths up to 3.78 inches and leg spans up to 9 inches.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Euthycaelus<\/strong> species completely lack the urticating setae<\/strong> expected in New World species.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n The genus Ewok<\/strong> is named after the small, furry Star Wars<\/strong> creatures that inhabit the forest moon of Endor in Return of the Jedi.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Peru is located on the Pacific coast of South America, just south of the equator. It is considered one of the most biologically diverse<\/a> countries in the world. The shapes and features of the Andes Mountains provide a wide range of ecological zones and microclimates at varying elevations. Peru also has the second-largest area of the Amazon rainforest. The convergence of the Andes with the Amazon basin allows for great biodiversity, characterized by tens of thousands<\/a> of endemic plants and animals.<\/p>\n <\/a> From 9-inch giants to high-altitude survivors, Peru\u2019s diverse landscape has forced an incredible\u2014and sometimes bizarre\u2014evolution in its tarantula populations.<\/span> \u00a9 A-Z Animals<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n There are nearly 90 known tarantula species ranging from the cloud forests to the lowland rainforests of Peru. The following list includes all currently recognized tarantula species in Peru based on the records of the World Spider Catalog<\/a> as of December 2025. An asterisk after a species name indicates that it is the type species for the genus. For a comprehensive reference of all tarantula species, see our complete list of tarantula species<\/a>.<\/p>\n Acanthoscurria<\/em> tarantulas are large, stout-bodied spiders with leg spans of 7-8 inches. These terrestrial spiders often dig burrows under fallen logs, roots, and rocks in rainforests and other wet, humid, forested areas. A. theraphosides<\/em> has also been documented to dig tube-like tunnels in ravines<\/a>. These spiders generally have dark bodies with light-colored bands at the leg joints and long, reddish setae (hairs) on their abdomens and legs. A primary feature of Acanthoscurria<\/em> tarantulas is stridulating, or noise-making, setae on the coxa and trochanter of leg I<\/a> (the first and second segments). A. cordubensis <\/em>has a listed distribution that covers all of South America, with certain exceptions, but specific locality information is not provided for Peru. A. theraphosoides<\/em> is found in the Amazon region.<\/p>\n Acanthoscurria cordubensis <\/em><\/strong>Thorell, 1894<\/p>\n Common name: Rusty brown birdeater<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Distribution: South America, except Colombia, Suriname, Ecuador, and Chile<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Acanthoscurria theraphosoides<\/em><\/strong> (Doleschall, 1871) \u2013<\/p>\n Common name: Brazilian black and white tarantula<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n Distribution: Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, French Guiana<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n The genus Anqasha<\/em> is primarily characterized by patterned abdomens, a central patch of type III urticating setae, and the morphology of the reproductive organs. Anqasha<\/em> species are small to medium-sized terrestrial spiders with a total length between 0.51 inches and 1.46 inches<\/a>, not including chelicerae (mouthparts) and spinnerets. They have uniformly covered carapaces, dark lateral stripes on their abdomens, and the femora are darker than the other leg segments. A. picta<\/em> and A. minaperinensis<\/em> are known from the Ancash region in north-central Peru, while A. lima<\/em> is known from the Amancaes Flower Hills in Lima.<\/p>\nQuick Take<\/h2>\n
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Acanthoscurria<\/em> Ausserer, 1871<\/h2>\n
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Anqasha<\/em> Sherwood & Gabriel, 2022<\/h2>\n