How deep will they burrow in the wild?

[PhormictopusMan]

I am currently putting together some handouts for presentation purposes and it occurred to me while writing them that I know burrowing tarantulas can burrow deep, but I don't know how deep, nor can I find reference.

Is there anyone who knows some specifics about how deep they can burrow? or can you point me in the right direction? This is a question pertaining to the spider in its natural habitat, not in an enclosure.

I know that some trap-door spiders can burrow up to three feet if not more.

Thanks for any help,

--Chris

 

[PhormictopusMan]

BTW, I know that it varies by species. I am really looking for the deepest known burrows.

Thanks,

-Chris

 

[dtknow]

I've lost sticks about 3 feet long down T burrows trying to coax them out. On the other end of the scale the girl I have right now was in a burrow maybe 2 feet at the most...and it ran parallel to the soil surface.

 

[PhormictopusMan]

Thanks Dtknow,

Where was this that you were in the field and what species was it?

Anyone else have any ideas on this?

Thanks,

--Chris

 

[Drachenjager]

i have seen a. hentzi burrowed just under a rock. sorta made a scrape under a rock . and also seen them burrowed into the side of a ditch about 2 feet deep.

 

[dtknow]

Central CA(Coarsegold/Oakhurst). The species are thought to be A. iodus.

 

[Merfolk]

I've read up to 2 metres. To verifiy

 

[cacoseraph]

I've read up to 2 metres. To verifiy

i've believe i have read the same. mebbe check out TTKG

 

[Austin S.]

I know certain African species such as C. crawshayi dig very, very deep burrows to escape the heat during the day. I'm not exactly sure exactly how deep they can be, but atleast a couple feet I imagine.

 

[Merfolk]

I think it's both theraphosa that hold the depth record. However, it's logic that a warmer temperature will result in deeper digging. they do it to cold themselves...

 

[PhormictopusMan]

Thanks for the input guys. This is great. The A. iodius I know are not that avid of burrowers, being more opportunistic and taking over already constructed burrows left behind from other animals, but I may be wrong about this (and please correct me if I am). I would imagine that as mentioned there could be some really deep African and Amazonian burrows. I am often asked the question "how deep," and I can only say "well...deep," and then make a guess.

Two meters is impressive though, and falls about in the range that I had figured.

--Chris

 

[cacoseraph]

aussies

60-100cm
http://www.americanarachnology.org/JoA_free/JoA_v18_n2/JoA_v18_p123.pdf
this makes me want to bring rubber tubing to the field to aid burrow flooding

2m

Image: Burrow entrance
The burrow entrance of Selenocosmia crassipes. This species is an obligate burrower, utilizing rocks and logs for cover until almost maturity sometimes, then constructing a burrow that gets deeper as the spider ages. Some S.crassipes burrows can be up to two meters long.

http://www.thedailylink.com/australiantarantulas/species/crassipes.html
^ looks like by the Son of Nunn



G. rosea
45cm
http://www.ucalgary.ca/~schultz/roses.html

 

[TheNatural]

blondi burrows

hi guys, I know a guy that is studying Theraphosa genus in Amazon Forest and told me that they dig very deep arround 1,5m and some more than 2m, they stop when the reach the water because they make their burrows by the river side, I think the fact that their burrow ends in the water is a very interesting information. Another interesting info is that they make some kind of "sifon" to avoid the water to come up when the river level gets higher ,and this may happen in some minutes in some cases.

 

[cacoseraph]

hi guys, I know a guy that is studying Theraphosa genus in Amazon Forest and told me that they dig very deep arround 1,5m and some more than 2m, they stop when the reach the water because they make their burrows by the river side, I think the fact that their burrow ends in the water is a very interesting information. Another interesting info is that they make some kind of "sifon" to avoid the water to come up when the river level gets higher ,and this may happen in some minutes in some cases.

well, they couldn't dig beneath the water table... they would be swimming then =P

the syphon thing sounds interesting. it was my understanding that the water level around the amazon can change QUITE fast and drastically. very cool.

i wonder why i see Theraphosa blondi called an opportunistic burrower so often. probably something that has been quoted since way back. i have a feeling the hobby is rife with stuff like that

 

[TheNatural]

....i wonder why i see Theraphosa blondi called an opportunistic burrower so often. probably something that has been quoted since way back. i have a feeling the hobby is rife with stuff like that

hi caco, yes maybe, but it also makes some sense if you think that the river side is full of trees and roots and these roots make lots of natural burrows so its difficult to say, I guess we must go there and take a look ourselfs, hehehe

 

[R.HENNING]

I don't know if this helps ?
I once was collecting in central cal., digging up A.rusticum.
Came across a burrow it only went about 6'' deep then took a 90 deg. turn.
Then went for 6' parallel to surface.
Before i found the spider.

 

[PhormictopusMan]

Makes me wonder how deep they will burrow if they did not hit water.

The latteral burrowing is interesting.

I'm game on a field trip. :}

--Chris