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SPECIES FILE
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Grammostola pulchripes

Chaco Golden-knee Tarantula

Golden leg markings catch the light against a darker body.

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 Golden-kneed Burrower
Terrestrial; often uses a burrow or shelter

Species highlights

Golden lines on dark legs

Gold leg markings offer a route into spider anatomy. Find four walking legs on each side, then the different appendages near the mouth.

Palps and chelicerae divide sensing and food-handling tasks; mature male palps also serve reproduction. This is not an insect’s six-legged plan.

Tracing one gold-marked limb to its contact point links appearance with joints, support and movement, completing the colour nickname with a working body.

Feature sources:

At a glance

Grammostola pulchripes is associated with South America’s Gran Chaco and is recorded from Paraguay and Argentina. This terrestrial tarantula uses burrows and substrate retreats; the country in its common name does not limit the entire species to one nation.

A ground life uses substrate, burrows and environmental rearrangement. Eight walking legs transfer support while growth requires moulting, not a uniform daily increase.

Invertebrate feeding and the distinction between leg span and body length matter alongside gold markings. Pattern, appendages and growth together turn a colour nickname into an animal’s life history.

Common names Chaco Golden-knee Tarantula; Grammostola pulchripes
Scientific name Grammostola pulchripes
Native rangeSouth America; the current WSC lists Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina
Adult sizeOften about 15–20 cm leg span, not body length
ActivityTerrestrial; often uses a burrow or shelter
Diet Feed appropriately sized insects according to abdominal condition and feeding records. Remove uneaten prey, pause feeding around moults and avoid extra heat intended to accelerate growth.

Habitat & care

Provide diggable substrate, a low fall height, a hide and a water dish. Do not handle it casually.

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 20–24°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.
Space60×60×40 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

Trace the gold markings along a leg and compare their width and position near the joints. Distinguish the front palps from the eight walking legs. Follow one foot over substrate particles and watch the body advance as contacts become secure.

Care note: Keep falls unlikely and remove live insects during moulting.

About this profile

Size ranges are reference values; sex, origin and age affect appearance.

Profile status: Reference profile · Reviewed

References (3)

Photo: Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grammostola_pulchripes_2.jpg Public domain · 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.