App: 10cms long Interesting facts: - Life expectancy: 13 - 20 years - Distribution: in tropical regions, Europe - Colours: rust colour to brown The name tarantula comes from the town of Taranto in southern Italy and gave its name to a species of European wolf spider. The name was borrowed to apply to the theraphosids when Europeans explored areas where these large spiders were common. All of these spiders are poisonous; however, they are not dangerous to humans. One bite, although painful and unpleasant, is not fatal. Anyone who is allergic to insect venom should not get too close to these spiders, because one bite can be fatal to them.