Origin Mexican redknee tarantula (Brachypelma smithi) is one of the most impressive tarantula species which is native to deciduous tropical forests in southwestern Mexico. Its enormous popularity worldwide has severely reduced its population in the wild and in 1985, the CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) proclaimed it an endangered species. All Mexican redknee tarantulas on the pet market today are obtained from breeding in captivity, however, excessive export is not the only threat to this impressive creature. There have been reports of some local populations nearly systematically killing these tarantulas, so the exact number of Mexican redknee tarantulas living in the wild remains unknown. Characteristics and Behavior Mexican redknee tarantula is probably best known for its colorful appearance which makes it one of the most popular tarantula pets. Its body which is about 5.5 inches long is nearly black, while the legs are marked by orange to reddish stripes. The colors become more pronounced after molting. Both males and females reach about the same size but the males tend to have longer legs and smaller mass. They grow slowly and become sexually mature relatively late, however, they are believed to be [...]

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