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Mexican Flame Knee Tarantula (Brachypelma auratum)
Brachypelma auratum
The Brachypelma auratum, known as 'Mexican Flame Knee Tarantula'. Long confused with B. smithi, it is distinguished by a unique chromatic pattern: the knees present a marked red/orange flame on a deep black background, surmounted by a distinct horizontal creamy white band. Powerful (5.9-6.3 inches legspan) and with a light-bordered carapace, it is a long-lived and placid terrestrial spider, but slightly more reluctant to handling than its cousins.
Class:Arachnida
Order:Araneae
Family:Theraphosidae
Subfamily:Theraphosinae
Genus:Brachypelma
Species:Brachypelma auratum
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
55 - 70 %
Day temperature
24 - 28 °C
Night temperature
20 - 24 °C
UVB
None
Species description
Geographic Origin and Habitat: World Spider Catalog lists Brachypelma auratum from Mexico. This taxonomic distribution entry does not characterize habitat conditions.
Taxonomy and Genetics: World Spider Catalog lists Brachypelma auratum Schmidt, 1992 as an accepted species in Theraphosidae. The cited taxonomic entry does not provide genetic results.
Behaviour and Habits: The cited taxonomic catalog does not provide behavioural observations for this species.
Morphology and Sexual Dimorphism: The cited taxonomic catalog entry does not provide a morphological description or sexual-dimorphism measurements; none are inferred here.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: A peer-reviewed conservation profile reports Brachypelma auratum as fossorial: it modifies previously excavated burrows or can excavate its own, including natural small cavities under debris such as large rocks and tree roots. This field observation does not establish enclosure dimensions, substrate depth, materials, or a captive setup protocol.
Lighting and Heating: The profile reports that the species primarily inhabits Balsas dry forest on the inland side of the Sierra Madre del Sur. This natural-habitat statement does not set a lighting or heating schedule for captivity.
Humidity and Hydration: The cited profile does not quantify a captive humidity target or hydration protocol.
Feeding and Supplementation: The cited profile does not document captive diet, feeding frequency, quantities, or supplementation.
Compatibility and Coexistence: The cited profile does not provide a cohabitation recommendation.
Health and Common Diseases: The cited profile does not provide clinical disease, treatment, or veterinary-management guidance.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
This species originates from: Messico (Boschi misti e savane montane degli stati di Guerrero e Michoacán).
Origin
Central America and Caribbean
Terrestrial invertebrate profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 14 cm
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Venom level
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
The catalog's scalar value is 14 cm. The The Tarantula Collective — Brachypelma auratum source reports a maximum adult measurement of 14 cm for this species, recorded as diagonal leg span (DLS). The taxonomic record consulted is Brachypelma auratum. These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
Related species
Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.
