Grammostola pulchra

Brazilian Black Tarantula

Black hairs reveal subtle layers as the light changes.

Reference photo, not the individual on display. Credits appear below.

Care commitment Specialist setup

Habitat Ground & cover

Visiting Observe only

Meet your new acquaintance

Nickname Velvet Burrower

Terrestrial; uses sheltered retreats

Species highlights

Hairs are more than decoration

Velvet is a visual comparison, not an invitation to touch. Tarantula sensory systems use specialised structures to receive contact, vibration and air-movement information.

Hair-like structures are not all equivalent; sensory hairs and defensive urticating hairs must not be merged into one function.

Watching reflections and foot contact returns the soft-looking surface to a sensing body. Stillness need not mean absence of information, and the black outline is far from empty.

Feature sources:

American Museum of Natural History · Tarantula facts (group-level sensory traits)

At a glance

The Brazilian black tarantula (Grammostola pulchra) is a ground-dwelling species native to Brazil. Dark hairs create its velvet-like appearance. Substrate, cover and retreat entrances shape its daily space, where quiet waiting and a slowly extended leg can reveal as much as conspicuous movement.

Substrate, shelter and water form its usable world. Growth requires moulting, with withdrawal from the old exoskeleton followed by expansion and hardening, so behaviour must be read on that timeline.

Four pairs of walking legs, palps and chelicerae perform different tasks. Its velvet-like surface covers a body whose proportions and activity also vary with sex and life stage.

Common names Brazilian Black Tarantula; Grammostola pulchra

Scientific name Grammostola pulchra

Native rangeSouthern Brazil

Adult sizeOften about 13–17 cm adult leg span

ActivityTerrestrial; uses sheltered retreats

Diet Offer appropriately sized invertebrate prey according to abdominal condition and actual intake. Remove live feeders around moulting rather than insisting on daily feeding.

Habitat & care

Provide a low terrestrial enclosure, substrate, a hide and a water dish. Leave it undisturbed while moulting or sealed in its retreat.

Values guide routine care, not breeding or brumation. Dimensions are length × width × height for one adult unless stated otherwise; larger animals need more space.

TemperatureDaytime air 20–23°C Measure enclosure air; avoid direct sun and contact heaters. Remove live prey during moulting and do not use strong heat to speed growth.

HumidityMoist lower layer Do not chase a fixed air RH. Adults can have a dry surface, water and a locally moist lower layer; monitor small slings more closely.

LightingDay–night cycle Do not apply a reptile UVB setup by default; retain sheltered retreats.

Space55×55×40 cm Plan length and width at least 3× actual leg span; dimensions are a recommended example. Provide deep substrate and a hide, with fall height ideally ≤1.5× leg span.

Look a little closer

Compare the sheen of the dark hairs from different angles, then distinguish cephalothorax, abdomen and eight walking legs. Follow one foot’s contact with the substrate. Around a resting spider, look for silk, the retreat edge and signs of substrate rearrangement.

Care note: Adjust feeding to condition and avoid disturbance around moulting.

About this profile

Grammostola pulchra is native to Brazil. The similar G. quirogai is a different species; black hairs alone do not distinguish them.

Profile status: Reference profile · Reviewed 2026-10-20

References (4)

Photo: Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Captive_Female_G_pulchra_Feeding.jpg CC BY-SA 4.0 · Original image, credit and licence

Behaviour notes describe the species, not a promise about every individual. These care notes introduce its needs; ask our team about the animal on display and any supervised encounters.