I think the Rattlesnake tarantula is probably overrated...

[RezonantVoid]

I first heard about this T a few years back when some videos surfaced of this legendary spider, said to be the rarest of rare in the Australian hobby. Its famed for producing extraordinarily loud stridulation despite it's small size. For a couple of years ive played with the idea that its actually an undescribed Selenotholus sp.. Im even more certain of this after a recent video i took of my Selenotholus Kotzman during a rehouse. All my T's can stridulate, but this little thing is VERY loud. However, ive never recorded it before. This is the video i took trying to get her out of her transport container and into her new enclosure-
https://www.reddit.com/r/thedarkden/comments/ib2bb1
Now, while she is loud, she doesnt sound anywhere near as loud in person as what the video seems to pick up. Its almost like the video amplifies the stridulation. This happened across 3 other videos, so i know its not a one off. None of my other T's will hiss for as long or as loudly as what this little 100mm DLS fuzzball can achieve, despite them being much larger.

After seeing this, i can only imagine the same would be true of a rattlesnake T on video. Im sure its very loud, but definitely not as loud as what you'll find on youtube if you heard one in person. In conclusion, if you're an Aussie reading this, dont blow $800 on a rattlesnake T when one pops up for sale on gumtree. Just get a common-as-candy Kotzman and you'll basically have one already.

Just an interesting little thought i had, i hope you enjoy reading

 

[Jess S]

She's very impressive.

Never heard of this rattlesnake t. Are you able to provide any links or is that not allowed here?

Never mind, I googled 'rattlesnake tarantula' and found the videos etc. To me, yours sounds more like a rattlesnake. The one on the videos (,although impressive) sounds like one of those wind up toys

 

[Arachnid Addicted]

Never mind, I googled 'rattlesnake tarantula' and found the videos etc. To me, yours sounds more like a rattlesnake. The one on the videos (,although impressive) sounds like one of those wind up toys

I believe S. crassipes is the Rattlesnake Tarantula. If so, they are so known as Queesnland Whistling, imo, the second names is also more suitable, even though I dont like common names.

 

[RezonantVoid]

I believe S. crassipes is the Rattlesnake Tarantula. If so, they are so known as Queesnland Whistling, imo, the second names is also more suitable, even though I dont like common names.

Cassipes was believed to be the rattlesnake for a while until more videos showed up with specimens that are far smaller and more thickset as opposed to the legginess of Crassipes. Also having owned Crassipes, i can definitely say the tiny S.Kotzman is far louder, and more inclined to hiss. Im almost certain Crassipes can be crossed off the list

 

[AphonopelmaTX]

After seeing this, i can only imagine the same would be true of a rattlesnake T on video. Im sure its very loud, but definitely not as loud as what you'll find on youtube if you heard one in person. In conclusion, if you're an Aussie reading this, dont blow $800 on a rattlesnake T when one pops up for sale on gumtree. Just get a common-as-candy Kotzman and you'll basically have one already.

Just an interesting little thought i had, i hope you enjoy reading

When I see this video clip and compare to videos of the rattlesnake tarantula, I don't think of the volume that makes the rattlesnake tarantula unique but rather the sound. I listened to the video here and the sound is really interesting; kind of sounds like cricket stridulation. But the sound of the rattlesnake tarantula stridulation really does sound like a rattle which is extraordinary. When are the Australian taxonomists going to finish up the complete revision of of the country's tarantulas? I have been wanting to see the stridulating organs of these things for so long.

Here is one YouTube video of a rattlesnake tarantula for comparison to the one here. The sounds produced are so different from one another.

 

[RezonantVoid]

When I see this video clip and compare to videos of the rattlesnake tarantula, I don't think of the volume that makes the rattlesnake tarantula unique but rather the sound. I listened to the video here and the sound is really interesting; kind of sounds like cricket stridulation. But the sound of the rattlesnake tarantula stridulation really does sound like a rattle which is extraordinary. When are the Australian taxonomists going to finish up the complete revision of of the country's tarantulas? I have been wanting to see the stridulating organs of these things for so long.

Here is one YouTube video of a rattlesnake tarantula for comparison to the one here. The sounds produced are so different from one another.

Like 6 years ago we discovered we have the largest wild colony of tarantulas in the world, and that they spend several MONTHS living underwater during the flood season. We STILL havnt given them even a placeholder genus T-T. I wouldnt bet any money on the world's loudest spider getting a name any time soon either unfortunately.

Definitely agree with you on the actual sound itself though, Kotzman and the Rattlesnake are different for sure. It just never ceases to amaze me how loud a Kotzman can be for how small they are. The longest she's ever done it in one continuous hiss was 22 seconds (only time ive ever deliberately agitated her was to record the time), but i read the rattlesnake can allegedly beat this. Crassipes and other Phlogius in comparison tend to produce quieter, shorter bursts of stridulation, which is a secone reason i do believe the rattler is either a Selenotholus sp. or its own seperate genus

 

[Jess S]

When I see this video clip and compare to videos of the rattlesnake tarantula, I don't think of the volume that makes the rattlesnake tarantula unique but rather the sound. I listened to the video here and the sound is really interesting; kind of sounds like cricket stridulation. But the sound of the rattlesnake tarantula stridulation really does sound like a rattle which is extraordinary. When are the Australian taxonomists going to finish up the complete revision of of the country's tarantulas? I have been wanting to see the stridulating organs of these things for so long.

Here is one YouTube video of a rattlesnake tarantula for comparison to the one here. The sounds produced are so different from one another.

Now that definitely sounds more like a rattlesnake to me, unlike the video I saw: