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Trinidad Chevron Tarantula (Psalmopoeus cambridgei)
Psalmopoeus cambridgei
The Trinidad Chevron Tarantula (Psalmopoeus cambridgei) is a large, fast arboreal species native to Trinidad. Known for its olive-green coloration, orange leg markings, and chevron abdominal pattern, it requires high humidity and excellent ventilation.
Class:Arachnida
Order:Araneae
Family:Theraphosidae
Subfamily:Aviculariinae
Genus:Psalmopoeus
Species:Psalmopoeus cambridgei
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
70 - 80 %
Day temperature
24 - 28 °C
Night temperature
22 - 25 °C
UVB
None
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Native to the tropical rainforests of the island of Trinidad, where it primarily inhabits tree hollows, cavities, and thick foliage. It constructs thick tubular retreats made of silk and substrate (dirt curtains) to shelter from predators and environmental extremes.
Taxonomy and Genetics: A large and leggy tarantula, reaching a leg span of 15–18 cm. The base color is a velvety olive-green or greyish-green, with a distinctive dark chevron pattern on the abdomen and bright orange flashes on the tarsi of its legs.
Behavior and Habits: Highly active, fast, and defensive when disturbed. Lacking urticating hairs, it relies on its impressive speed to flee or its venomous bite to defend itself. When threatened, it readily displays a threat posture.
Morphology: Females are larger, heavier, and live significantly longer. Males are smaller, more slender, greyish in color, and have a short lifespan once they reach sexual maturity, developing tibial hooks and emboli for mating.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: A tall, vertically oriented terrarium (minimum 25x25x40 cm) is required. Provide a vertical hollow cork bark tube and robust live or artificial foliage. The substrate should consist of 8 cm of damp peat moss or coco coir, which the tarantula will incorporate into its webbing.
Lighting and Heating: Temperatures should be kept stable between 24°C and 28°C. A heating mat can be attached to the side of the enclosure if room temperature is low. Avoid bright lighting, as this species is nocturnal and photophobic.
Humidity and Hydration: Maintain relative humidity between 70% and 85%. Excellent cross-ventilation is vital to prevent stagnant air, which can cause fatal bacterial or fungal infections in the book lungs. Provide a suspended water dish and mist the enclosure regularly.
Feeding and Supplementation: A voracious predator feeding on crickets, roaches, and locusts. Feed once or twice a week. Unfed prey must be removed from the enclosure, especially during the molting period, to prevent them from attacking the vulnerable spider.
Compatibility: Strictly solitary. Co-housing will result in cannibalism. Mating requires careful supervision, as the female can be highly aggressive towards the male and may kill him if she is not well-fed.
Health and Common Diseases: Book lung mycosis caused by stagnant, wet conditions is a primary concern. The spider should not be handled due to its speed and defensive nature; falls can cause abdominal rupture, which is fatal. Do not disturb the tarantula when it is molting.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Native to the tropical rainforests of the island of Trinidad, where it primarily inhabits tree hollows, cavities, and thick foliage. It constructs thick tubular retreats made of silk and substrate (dirt curtains) to shelter from predators and environmental extremes.
Origin
Central America and Caribbean
Terrestrial invertebrate profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 17 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 17 cm. The Herpeton Academy — Psalmopoeus cambridgei source reports a maximum adult measurement of 17 cm for this species, recorded as diagonal leg span (DLS). The taxonomic record consulted is Psalmopoeus cambridgei. 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.
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