Tarantulas are large, hairy spiders that non-aggressive to humans but which may inflict injury if attacked.
Family: Theraphosidae
Distribution: tropics
Defense mechanisms:
(1) bite
(2) urticating hairs (in some species)
Risk factors:
(1) intoxication
(2) young male
A bite may be associated with severe local pain but not a systemic reaction unless it becomes infected.
Urticating hairs are present on the abdomen of some species. These are projected by the rear feet of the spider as a shower of particles onto a pursuer. If these lodge in the skin then they can cause an urticarial reaction with intense burning and itching. If the hairs lodge into the eyes, they can cause a conjunctivitis. If they lodge in the cornea they can cause ophthalmia nodosa, which may progress to blindness.
People with arachnophobia may have a panic attack following contact with a tarantula or any other spider.
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