Meet The Endangered: Peacock Tarantula
Peacock Tarantula (Poecilotheria metallica)
Hidden away in a tiny 100 km² patch of forest in Southern India lies the answer to an eternal question mankind has asked itself since time immemorial: what if tarantulas were electric blue?
There are over 1,100 species of tarantulas - large, hairy spiders whose size and predation habits make them famous amongst humans. In all this diversity, the Peacock Tarantula is the only one whose hairs display a vivid azure coloration. It’s evolutionary purpose is unknown, but may have simply evolved via sexual selection - much like a peacock’s extravagant plumage.
P. metallica’s tiny native range makes it extremely vulnerable to habitat destruction, particularly illicit logging. It’s unique lusture also poses a threat, incentivizing poachers to capture the spiders for sale on the global pet market.
Perversely, if the Peacock Tarantula survives it will likely be because of its attractiveness to humans. Although wild capture remains a danger, the spider has also been successfully bred in captivity - ensuring that whatever happens in its little corner of India, P. metallica will rock on.
IUCN: Critically Endangered (CR)