Florida T's?

[Snifflezz]

Is there only one kind of T in Florida?

 

[Stan Schultz]

Is there only one kind of T in Florida?

Yes and no.

There are no tarantulas native to the state of Florida, or to anyplace east of the Mississippi River, for that matter, although a bunch of species are apparently found in Cuba, only 90 miles off the southern tip of Florida:

Avicularia hirsuta

Citharacanthus alayoni
C. cyaneu
C. niger
C. spinicrus

Cyrtopholis anacanta
C. bryantae
C. gibbosa
C. innocua
C. ischnoculiformis
C. major
C. obsoleta
C. plumosa
C. ramsi
C. regibbosa
C. respina
C. unispina

Holothele denticulata

Phormictopus auratus
P. cancerides centumfocensis
P. cubensis
P. nesiotes

(There is some question about the veracity of all these species. Probably, upon a thorough re-working of these genera, quite a few will be found to be synonymous.)

So, the big question is why haven't at least one or two of these been blown onto Florida by one of their frequent hurricanes?

Avicularia avicularia, the Guyana pinktoe, has escaped from the pet industry centered in Miami and they have gained a foothold in the Everglades, I'm told. Reportedly they are causing some problems with the native fauna, but I don't know the details. Does anyone else have better information?

Brachypelma vagans, the redrump, somehow established a colony in an orange grove in northeastern Florida. Apparently it is still alive and doing well in spite of all efforts by the State of Florida to eradicate it.

Knowing how the pet industry and casual tarantula keepers operate, I wouldn't be a bit surprised to hear about more such feral tarantulas. Who knows? Maybe if we could establish a self-sustaining population of L. parahybana, the Brazilian salmon, or T. blondi, the birdeater, in southern Florida they could help eradicate the marine toad?

But, please, Please, PLEASE, PLEASE don't tell me that you're actually trying to do this! Our hobby doesn't need that sort of black eye.

Enjoy your securely caged tarantulas.