Clavopelma tamaulipeca (Sierra Madre Wooly) 0.25"

A treasure of the Sierra Madre! You may well find yourself falling for the spell of the hauntingly beautiful Clavopelma taumalipas Chamberlin, and like Humphrey Bogart, desire this treasure for yourself! Resembling a curly-hair Aphonopelma (formerly classified as such and under the genus Pterinopelma), this species is now designated into its own, lonely monotypic genus, Clavopelma. C. taumalipas remains somewhat elusive, having entered the arachnid trade in the United States only within the past few years. This tarantula reaches ~6” diagonal leg span and has a black body and base color, but the chelicerae and each leg from the patella (knees) to tarsus are lined in pale to reddish brown setae. Additionally, the abdomen is adorned with long, reddish urticating setae.

C. taumalipas is native to the Sierra Madre Orientals of the northeastern Mexican states of Nuevo León and Tamaulipas     Rocky, semi-arid mountain slopes with mid- to high-elevation subtropical dry pine and oak woodlands mixed with succulent scrublands adorned with agaves and dwarf, ground-hugging blue Sierra Madre palm, Brahea decumbens.             This terrestrial fossorial (burrowing) species builds earthen or scrape-like burrows between and under rocks and logs in the wild.

This species is suitable for beginners and keepers with intermediate levels of experience. C. taumalipas has a slow growth rate and should be docile, but it can be skittish and flick urticating hairs when spooked, so is best not handled. C. taumalipes can likely fast for weeks to months, similar to some arid land Aphonopelma. If this happens, fasting is a natural strategy these spiders employ to coast through prolonged dry seasons in the wild.

Overall, the care of C. taumalopas should be similar to Aphonopelma species. A terrestrial, cross-ventilated enclosure that is wider than taller should work well for this tarantula. Provide a deep soil profile with an airy to fluffy organic substrate kept barely moist for spiderlings and dry for adults. A secured cork slab with a depression beneath should encourage this species to initiate a burrow system. This gorgeous and elusive species built to thrive in the harsh, arid climate of the Sierra Madre is an excellent tarantula to work with.