Chilean Rose Tarantula

The Chilean rose tarantula, Grammostola rosea, is a burrowing spider from central Chile. Its Chilean range runs from Vallenar to Angol, from sea level to 1,500 m, mostly in Mediterranean scrub and sclerophyll forest rather than desert, and it is also recorded in Bolivia and Argentina. Spiders long sold as Grammostola porteri are now treated as the same species, and despite an old museum labeling error it does not occur in Mexico. Its hairs range from reddish to dark brown, and adults reach a leg span of about 13 to 15 cm. Females can live 15 to 20 years or more; males usually live only a few years, though one captive male reached 8.5.

In late 2025 CITES added it to Appendix II, and since March 5, 2026 every shipment into or out of the United States needs CITES documents; the EU began applying its own permit rules in June 2026. Chilean researchers warn that collecting wild spiders for the pet trade threatens local populations, so buy captive-bred stock. In captivity it is known for long fasts; one male refused food for 22 months. Handle it little: its hairs can lodge in the eyes, and a 2025 case report described weeks of muscle cramps after a bite.