Earth tiger nickname origin?

[bloodred1889]

Was wondering if anyone knows the origin of the tarantula nickname earth tiger?
Would be great to know the story its such a romantic name for Ts

 

[bloodred1889]

No one know atall?
Shame I thought someone would have an idea, maybe it's just a stupid question, thought it would have a reason like why the name bird eater is after people said they had seen tarantulas eating birds...

 

[jakykong]

Well, it's not a stupid question (I was keeping an eye on this thread for the answer myself); but apparently it's not well-known. My guess, without further info, would be that it's a bastardized translation of some Asian name.

 

[Marijan2]

Well, it's not a stupid question (I was keeping an eye on this thread for the answer myself); but apparently it's not well-known. My guess, without further info, would be that it's a bastardized translation of some Asian name.

or sellers wanted to name them something cool so they sell better

 

[jakykong]

or sellers wanted to name them something cool so they sell better

Haha, true. It could be both!

 

[spiderengineer]

if I had to guess I bet it has to do with the striping on the abdomen of some of the species known and add to it being terrestrial boom earth tiger. but that is a guess and i have nothing to back that up with.

 

[grayzone]

makes sense. Ive actually read somthing about this SOMEWHERE once before, and they said pretty much the same thing.
The tiger like striping and the dirt curtains and burrows definitely play a part.

 

[Tarac]

makes sense. Ive actually read somthing about this SOMEWHERE once before, and they said pretty much the same thing.
The tiger like striping and the dirt curtains and burrows definitely play a part.

Yeah, I agree. Common names usually suggest some easily recognized characteristic. Several things with a striped abdomen are called something or other tiger. Tiger rump, earth tiger, etc.

Romantic? I have often thought of that as strange condition a lot of our T's common names have. They sound much more grand and lovely than "big hairy spider" but when I think of some of the repugnant names for pretty flowers I wonder why the discrepancy. We have toad lilies, corpse flowers, etc. for some very attractive plants and then we have to have a euphemism for Pamphobeteus so we say "oooh, this is my Purple Bloom" as though there is anything flower like at all. No mention of the spider-ness in the least. Earth tiger. See? I find it ironic. I kind of think that it's done on purpose to help make them sound more palatable to our respective significant others- "Honey! Look, I just got a beautiful Indian Violet."

And then in the pet store, we call them all Birdeaters lol. I think it's so some of use don't feel emasculated when we are telling the bros about our newest addition, the Pink Bloom

I just stick to the formal name, less confusing anyway.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

The Abdomen has Tiger striped marking's similar to Pokies

Pokies have a similar nickname to natives were there from.