Which tarantula does Harry Belafonte sing about

[Josh]

Y'know in Day O?
I thought this was fun and informative. I always loved Belafonte and especially Day O

Ainsley S (@americanbeetles.bsky.social)

I was listening to Harry Belafonte's hit "Day-O," wherein he notes "a beautiful bunch of ripe banana/Hide the deadly black tarantula" The obvious question: it's probably not tarantulas, they're terrestrial, so what kind of spider IS Harry Belafonte singing about...

bsky.app

 

[Casey K.]

Hmmmm......interesting question.....I wonder if there is a black wandering spider.....they're the only ones I know of that actually live in banana trees.

 

[Josh]

In the thread they narrow it down to just a few potentials (most likely a true spider but potentially a Grammostola or something similar !

 

[Josh]

For those not in the know:

 

[Casey K.]

Do you think it could be some type of mygalomorph? If not tarantula.....perhaps confused with one because of their size? Or perhaps they found a tarantula in the banana bunches after they were gathered? This is interesting, lol.

 

[Josh]

 

[m0lsx]

I remember reading something about this a few weeks ago. The thought was, he was singing about the Brazilian Wandering spider, Phoneutria fere. Which are also known as Banana or armed spiders.

The genus Phoneutria, is from the Greek for "murderess." A bite can be fatal, but is normally not too bad.

 

[Ratmosphere]

I remember reading something about this a few weeks ago. The thought was, he was singing about the Brazilian Wandering spider, Phoneutria fere. Which are also known as Banana or armed spiders.

The genus Phoneutria, is from the Greek for "murderess." A bite can be fatal, but is normally not too bad.

Do you mean Phoneutria fera?

 

[m0lsx]

Do you mean Phoneutria fera?

Very, probably. Sorry.

 

[Jeef]

The Banana Boat song is the reason I ended up with a Grammostola pulchra. That was the only black tarantula from South America that I could come up with at the time. I've learned different since then, but here is what I figured out.

As an aside, she is one of the few tarantulas who has a name. We call her Carmen after Carmen Miranda. Also, the kid sings the line as "hides the medically insignificant, black tarantula."

Problem is, Grammostola aren't deadly. Which pointed to Phoneutria. They are big, there are some dark ones, and a bite is no joke! They aren't tarantulas, but most folks don't differentiate past really big spider.

I was perfectly satisfied with that as an answer. Then I found out the song most likely originated in Jamaca. Jamaca has spiders with medically significant bites, but nothing even close to the size of a tarantula.

I'm still sanding by Phoneutria. I do love listening to Henry Belafonte!