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Skeleton Tarantula (Ephebopus murinus)

Ephebopus murinus

The Ephebopus murinus, legendary as the 'Skeleton Tarantula'. Cousin of the 'Blue Fang', it is an extreme fossorial burrower (4.7-5.9 inches legspan) very famous for the iconic 'skeleton' pattern on the front legs: vivid creamy-white (or golden) parallel stripes that stand out on the dark brown body. Similar to its cousin, it launches urticating hairs from the pedipalps (and not from the abdomen) and is equally neurotic and lightning fast in defensive bites. It has an absolute need for humid and very deep substrate, living sealed in intricate tubes of silk and mud. A defensive and unforgiving creature, recommended only to veterans.

Taxonomy
Class:Arachnida
Order:Araneae
Family:Theraphosidae
Genus:Ephebopus
Species:Ephebopus murinus

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Environment

Terrestrial

Humidity

70 - 85 %

Day temperature

23 - 27 °C

Night temperature

21 - 24 °C

UVB

None

Species description

Geographic Origin and Habitat: World Spider Catalog lists Ephebopus murinus from French Guiana, Suriname and Brazil. This taxonomic distribution entry does not characterize habitat conditions.
Taxonomy and Genetics: World Spider Catalog lists Ephebopus murinus (Walckenaer, 1837) as an accepted type species in the genus Ephebopus, family Theraphosidae. The 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 does not provide a morphological description or sexual-dimorphism measurements; none are inferred here.

Care, breeding and tankmates

Terrarium Setup: In a field study in French Guiana, Marshall and West (2008) observed early-instar Ephebopus murinus constructing above-ground silken tubular retreats among low vegetation, then shifting to a fossorial lifestyle when subadult. This is an ontogenetic field observation, not an enclosure design or substrate prescription.
Lighting and Heating: The cited field study does not provide a captive lighting or heating schedule.
Humidity and Hydration: The cited study does not quantify a captive humidity or hydration target.
Feeding and Supplementation: The cited study does not document a captive feeding or supplementation protocol.
Compatibility and Coexistence: The cited study does not evaluate captive cohabitation.
Health and Common Diseases: The cited study does not provide disease, treatment, or veterinary-management evidence. In its French Guiana sample, terrestrial Bromelia predicted the placement of above-ground retreats and leaf litter predicted burrow placement; these associations are not husbandry instructions.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

This species originates from: Sud America (Foreste primarie umide di Brasile, Guyana Francese, Suriname).

Origin

Amazon, Orinoco, and Guianas

Terrestrial invertebrate profile

Diet
No verified data available
Life expectancy
No verified data available
Adult size
15 cm
The catalog's scalar value is 15 cm. The GreenFlow — Ephebopus murinus source reports a maximum adult measurement of 15 cm for this species, recorded as diagonal leg span (DLS). The taxonomic record consulted is Ephebopus murinus. 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.
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

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.

Variants and close relatives

Same atlas type, nearby scientific identity, genus, or family.

Blue Fang Skeleton Tarantula (Ephebopus cyanognathus)

Blue Fang Skeleton Tarantula (Ephebopus cyanognathus)

Ephebopus cyanognathus

Colombian Lesserblack Tarantula (Xenesthis immanis)

Colombian Lesserblack Tarantula (Xenesthis immanis)

Xenesthis immanis

Haitian Brown Tarantula (Phormictopus cancerides)

Haitian Brown Tarantula (Phormictopus cancerides)

Phormictopus cancerides

Indian Violet Tarantula (Chilobrachys fimbriatus)

Indian Violet Tarantula (Chilobrachys fimbriatus)

Chilobrachys fimbriatus

Recommended companions

Compatible cards from coherent ecosystems with matching parameters.

Clown Tree Frog
Amphibian

Clown Tree Frog

Dendropsophus leucophyllatus

False Tomato Frog
Amphibian

False Tomato Frog

Dyscophus guineti

Long-tailed lizard
Reptile

Long-tailed lizard

Takydromus sexlineatus

Argentine Horned Frog
Amphibian

Argentine Horned Frog

Ceratophrys ornata

Similar care

Cards with similar requirements, difficulty, habitat, and husbandry profile.

Venezuelan Suntiger

Venezuelan Suntiger

Psalmopoeus irminia

Burgundy Goliath Birdeater (Theraphosa stirmi)

Burgundy Goliath Birdeater (Theraphosa stirmi)

Theraphosa stirmi

Puerto Rican Brown Tarantula (Cyrtopholis portoricae)

Puerto Rican Brown Tarantula (Cyrtopholis portoricae)

Cyrtopholis portoricae

Borneo Black Tarantula (Phormingochilus arboricola)

Borneo Black Tarantula (Phormingochilus arboricola)

Phormingochilus arboricola

Last updated: 08/10/2026
Skeleton Tarantula (Ephebopus murinus) Care Guide & Terrarium Setup | Atlarium