Peacock Tarantula

Poecilotheria metallica Status: Critically Endangered Region: India (Jharkand, West Bengal) Population remaining: Decreasing

The species’ natural habitat is the deciduous forest in Andhra Pradesh in central southern India. Also known as the Gooty sapphire ornamental tree spider, the peacock tarantula is the only blue species of the genus Poecilotheria. Like others in its genus, it exhibits an intricate fractal-like pattern on the abdomen. Males live for three to four years while females live about three times longer. War, civil unrest and military exercises in western India have led to the steep decline of this species. It is also actively collected for sale as pets and an adult can cost about USD500.