Theraphosa

Theraphosa
Female Theraphosa blondi
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Mygalomorphae
Family: Theraphosidae
Genus: Theraphosa
Walckenaer, 1805
Type species
T. blondi
(Latreille, 1804)
Synonyms
  • Pseudotheraphosa Tinter, 1991
  • Theraphosia Dahl, 1901

Theraphosa is a genus of South American tarantulas that was first described by Charles Athanase Walckenaer in 1805. The Theraphosa spiders are some of the largest known to science. As of May 2020 it contains three species, found in Guyana, Brazil, Venezuela, and Colombia. They stridulate by rubbing setae on their pedipalps and legs.