Hindustan Times
Lifestyle
Lifestyle
The Metallic Blue Tarantula: World's most beautiful and rare spider
The Gooty tarantula, or the metallic blue tarantula, is the most visually striking species of arboreal tarantula.
It is named after the town in Andhra Pradesh, India, from where the first specimen was discovered in 1899.
It is listed as critically endangered by the IUCN.
Poecilotheria metallica shares the intricate geometric body patterns of other Poecilotheria species, but it is the only one in the genus to be adorned with blue-colored hair.
While young, this species displays less vibrant coloring, with its striking blue hues developing as it matures.
The species' natural habitat is deciduous forest in Andhra Pradesh.
The Blue Metallic Spider lives in holes of tall trees where it makes asymmetrical funnel webs.