Tarantulas comprise a group of often hairy and very large arachnids belonging to the Theraphosidae family of spiders, of which approximately 900 species have been identified. This article only describes members of Theraphosidae, although some other members of the same suborder are commonly referred to as "tarantulas". Most species of tarantulas are not dangerous to humans, and some species have become popular in the exotic pet trade. [1]
In film[]
- Eight Legged Freaks: In the 2002 sci-fi/horror film Eight Legged Freaks, all of the spiders that had been housed at Taft's Exotic Spider Farm in Prosperity, Arizona grew to enormous size after consuming crickets that had been exposed to toxic waste. Several of the arachnids found at the farm were tarantulas. One tarantula killed it's owner, Joshua Taft. Another (or perhaps the same one) grew to enormous size, much larger than any of the other spiders and attacked the trailer owned by conspiracy theorist Harlan Griffith. This same tarantula led the raid of it's brethren against the Prosperity Mall. Using it's large legs, it tore through the protective barrier of the front of the mall, enabling the smaller spiders to get inside and wreak havoc amongst the frightened humans.