There’s no wanting for movies that present tarantulas (and other spiders) as aggressive and deadly. Movies like the 1977 classic “Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo,” and the 1990 blockbuster “Arachnophobia” prey on our fear of spiders by portraying them as bloodthirsty monsters.
Movies like these have led many people to believe that tarantulas are poisonous and, therefore, dangerous.
But, are tarantulas poisonous? You may be surprised by the answer. Believe it or not, tarantulas aren’t actually poisonous.
However, they are venomous.
Are Tarantulas Poisonous or Venomous?
Perhaps you think distinguishing between tarantulas being poisonous and tarantulas being venomous is splitting hairs. Aren’t the two questions synonymous?
As a matter of fact, no.
Referring to something as “poisonous” actually means that it releases toxins and is potentially fatal when ingested. Think of plants like Poison Oak, Poke Weed (a.k.a. Poke Berries), and Water Hemlock. They may not be fatal if ingested (Water Hemlock can be), but they’re all poisonous and can do a number on you.
Tarantulas aren’t poisonous when ingested. In fact, in some cultures tarantulas are consumed as a delicacy.
Something being venomous, however, is a different story.
A venomous animal produces venom in a specialized gland, and releases its venom when it bites or stings. For example, bees, wasps, and certain types of snakes are venomous. Tarantulas are venomous.
Are Tarantulas Dangerous?
Having clarified that tarantulas are venomous rather than poisonous, that still begs the question: Are tarantulas dangerous?
The answer depends on two things: the species of tarantula, and what you consider “dangerous.”
There are over 850 species of tarantula, all of which are venomous. For easier classification, tarantula species are commonly divided into two categories: Old World tarantulas and New World tarantulas.
Old World Tarantulas
Old World tarantulas – like the Orange Baboon Tarantula (OBT) – have a more potent venom and tend to be more aggressive. Their bites may result in a number of unpleasant symptoms, including muscle spasms, cramping, nausea, vomiting, and even fever.
New World Tarantulas
New World tarantulas, on the other hand – like the Chilean Rose Tarantula – have a milder venom and a more docile nature. Their bites are often compared to bee stings, and the resulting symptoms aren’t as extreme as their Old World relatives.
All tarantulas, however – both Old World and New World tarantulas – are defensive rather than aggressive creatures. They prefer to be left alone and will only attack when they feel threatened. Their preference is to run off to their burrow or some other hiding spot. Attacking is a last line of defense for them.
Tarantulas are dangerous in the sense that, if you provoke them into attacking, their bite will inflict a world of hurt on you for a more or less lengthy period of time.
Are Tarantulas Deadly?
Despite how they’re often depicted in pop-culture, tarantulas are not deadly… at least, not to humans.
In their article on “Tarantula Spider Toxicity” (last updated on May 1, 2023), the National Library of Medicine pointed out that:
“[T]here have been no reported human deaths due to toxicity from a tarantula bite.”
So, if you’re bitten by a tarantula you may be in for a few weeks of severe discomfort, but your life is likely not at risk.
In fact, your chances of even being injured by a tarantula bite are pretty slim. In the same article, the National Library of Medicine points out that, in 2018, only 44 tarantula-related reports were filed with the American Association of Poison Control Centers. Of those 44 reports, only 17 cases required medical evaluation.
A word of caution: Tarantulas, particularly Old World tarantulas, can be deadly to your pet dog or pet cat.
What’s Worse Than a Tarantula’s Bite?
Believe it or not, New World tarantulas have a worse defense mechanism than just biting.
The hairs on their abdomen, called urticating hairs – have spikes that can pierce through human skin. When threatened or provoked, the tarantula will rub its back legs across its abdomen, kicking a cloud of thousands of these tiny urticating hairs toward whatever’s threatening them. These hairs can cause:
- Inflammation
- Swelling
- Rashes
- Itchiness
- Blistering
The irritation from these urticating hairs can potentially last for weeks. These hairs can also get into your eyes. If this happens, you may experience:
- Severe pain
- Light sensitivity
- Temporary blindness
- Redness
- Vision problems
Imagine having thousands of shards of fiberglass thrown at your skin or into your eyes, and you’ll get a sense of the kind of discomfort you can experience when New World tarantulas kick their urticating hairs at you.
Because of their urticating hairs, it’s recommended that you wear long sleeves, latex gloves, protective eyewear, and sometimes even a respiratory mask when interacting with New World tarantula species.
Old World tarantulas do not have urticating hairs. They rely instead on their venomous bite for defense.
A word of caution: Reactions to urticating hairs can become worse the more you are in contact with them.
Top 5 Most Venomous Tarantula Species: What To Expect If You’re Bitten
Even though you’re unlikely to be bitten by a tarantula if you're following proper husbandry and handling methods, it’s still good to know which tarantulas are the most venomous and what symptoms you can expect if you’re bitten.
So, here are the top 5 most venomous tarantula species that are commonly kept as pets:
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Orange Baboon Tarantula (OBT) – One of the most defensive of the tarantula species. If you’re bitten, expect extreme pain for up to 30 minutes, then numbness and swelling. There are no lasting effects.
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Cobalt Blue Tarantula – A popular pet species from Asia. This tarantula will bite without hesitation. If you’re bitten, expect pain, numbness, heavy bruising, and cramping that lasts up to 2 weeks.
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King Baboon Spider – A very defensive tarantula species. King Baboons will not hesitate to bite when they feel threatened. If you’re bitten, expect severe pain (often compared to being hit with a hammer), fever, cramping, muscle spasms, burning sensations, a darkening of the skin around the bitten area, swelling, and bruising.
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Ornamental Baboon Tarantula – This tarantula’s bite is deceptive. Initial symptoms are mild to severe pain, but the effects die down after a couple hours. The trouble starts after this as the venom takes hold. When this happens, expect blurred vision, a racing heart, headaches and pulsing veins, and muscle cramping at the bite site.
- Gooty Sapphire Ornamental – This tarantula species is nervous and prone to panic. If bitten, expect nausea, fever, cramping, vomiting, tremors, hot flashes, sweating, swelling of the joints, stiffness, and drowsiness. The stiffness has been known to last for up to three weeks.
Takeaway: There are over 850 species of tarantula, and all are venomous to a greater or lesser degree. However, tarantula bites, while potentially dangerous, are not usually deadly to humans. As of 2023 there have been no reported deaths related to tarantula venom.
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