What kind of tarantula was this?

[Lin0212]

Sorry if this in the wrong thread but I've been trying to do some research on a tarantula that I came across with little to no luck.

We have tarantulas here in Oklahoma, in fact they are very common and I typically see them in the fall time crossing the road. My dog came across one that has me really stumped. It was larger than any one I've ever seen, black legs and a tan body. What really baffled me (and it might be my ignorance) was it had a 3/4 inch stinger? I read that tarantulas don't have stingers, but this was a stinger in addition to it's two large fangs. The only picture I could find online to identify it was a Mexican Blonde Tarantula/or Desert Blonde Tarantula. I ruled out a Texas Brown, because I didn't see a stinger on those.

Excuse my ignorance, but do tarantulas have stingers(?) and are these common pets and it perhaps got loose? I can't imagine someone keeping it as a pet because it was REALLY aggressive. Any help to identify would be great! I like in south eastern Oklahoma so it's not a desert-like terrain but the opposite so I'm a little taken aback that it was in my backyards if it is a Mexican/Desert Tarantula.

Thanks!

 

[HungryGhost]

Tarantulas do not have stingers. Without a photo it's hard to say what you found.

 

[Lin0212]

Tarantulas do not have stingers. Without a photo it's hard to say what you found.

Thank you for the reply! I was thinking the same thing and everything I read said they don't have stinger. The photo below looks exactly like the tarantula I found, saying it's "showing it's stinger." If it's not a stinger what is it?
http://www.photographersdirect.com/buyers/stockphoto.asp?imageid=3009309

 

[Lin0212]

Tarantulas do not have stingers. Without a photo it's hard to say what you found.

And also don't most tarantulas have two spinnerets? This only had one and it was 3/4 inch.

 

[HungryGhost]

You probably saw one of the native US tarantulas. The "stinger" was the spinneret/s. It may have been missing one.

 

[Sabeth]

It was more than likely one of the Aphonopelma, these are the only Ts that live naturally in the US. According to the Tarantula Keeper's Guide, some of the Avicularia and the Brachypelma vagans live in Florida.

 

[Lin0212]

It was more than likely one of the Aphonopelma, these are the only Ts that live naturally in the US. According to the Tarantula Keeper's Guide, some of the Avicularia and the Brachypelma vagans live in Florida.

Thanks for the information. I'm still researching. I'm wondering if some tarantulas just have one spinneret? The desert tarantula still sticks in my mind.

 

[Sabeth]

I know tarantulas have two; other spiders might not but I'm not sure. If she was missing one it might have been lost somehow. I used to have a Desert Tarantula (Aphonopelma chalcodes)...does your find look anything like this?

 

[novakdesigns]

Are you on about the bit on its butt? If so thats the spinnerets that they use to make their webs

 

[Tgirl1010]

Tarantulas have 4 spinnerets. There are also two small ones at the ventral base of the larger two. It is entirely possible that the one you saw with only one lost one during a molt or some type of accident.

 

[Lin0212]

I know tarantulas have two; other spiders might not but I'm not sure. If she was missing one it might have been lost somehow. I used to have a Desert Tarantula (Aphonopelma chalcodes)...does your find look anything like this?

Same body color but the legs were dark

 

[HungryGhost]

Sounds like Aphonopelma hentzi.

 

[Lin0212]

Sounds like Aphonopelma hentzi.

It's very likely, although the pictures I saw of the Texas Browns had a darker butt. This one was tan all over it's body with just darker legs. The ones I've seen in the past here were black and a lot smaller. Thanks for the help! I may not figure out what it was, but he's lurking somewhere outside now.

 

[Tgirl1010]

The ones you see crossing the road in the Fall are probably mature males. They will look a little different than the females, or younger males.