What Qualities give a tarantula the title bird eater

[Nebs Tarantulas]

So yes I’m aware that the title is mainly used for the Theraphosa genus, but I’m wondering, is any T with the title bird eater gain it due to size or because it can do what the name implies?

 

[Emi248]

If im not mistaken the term bird eater is a misconception that summarizes the Ts massive size.

 

[Nebs Tarantulas]

If im not mistaken the term bird eater is a misconception that summarizes the Ts massive size.

Good to know, I was curious cause it’s given to so many other T’s outside the Theraphosa genus

 

[Doodlebird]

Some scientist looked at it and said "wow that is an absolute unit of a spood, I bet it could eat a bird" and now we call them bird eaters

 

[cold blood]

Its a term loosely applied to what basically amounts to:

Any south american terrestrial that gets to, or exceeds 5" DLS.

 

[Nebs Tarantulas]

Some scientist looked at it and said "wow that is an absolute unit of a spood, I bet it could eat a bird" and now we call them bird eaters

This is my favorite reply hands down

Its a term loosely applied to what basically amounts to:

Any south american terrestrial that gets to, or exceeds 5" DLS.

Thank you this actually makes a lot of sense

 

[Poonjab]

Correct answer: How many birds it’s eaten

 

[Doodlebird]

How many birds it’s eaten

Well it appears I am theraphosa sp then. It's been a nice run y'all but I'mma go live in a hole and eat the occasional squirrel that walks by.

 

[Poonjab]

Well it appears I am theraphosa sp then. It's been a nice run y'all but I'mma go live in a hole and eat the occasional squirrel that walks by.

That would make you a squirrel eater.

 

[Doodlebird]

That would make you a squirrel eater.

Very observant my dear friend. The migratory bird treaty act always ruins my plans. Also it's 1:30 am my time so my noodle of a brain is out of witty comebacks.

 

[DaveM]

The late 17th - early 18th century naturalist and illustrator Anna Maria Sybilla Merian drew pictures from her observations of [apparently] an Avicularia avicularia eating a bird.

Read this article: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/maria-sibylla-merian-metamorphosis-art-and-science.html
Scroll down toward the bottom of the page, and you can see the dark spider with pink toes sitting atop its avian prey. The genus name "Avicularia" is derived from Latin for 'little bird', as in 'little bird-spider.'

But the earlier answer given by @cold blood is right. Nowadays, the term 'bird eater' (and variants) is reserved for large terrestrial South American tarantulas, which would presumably have a better chance than a cute little Avic at being able to overpower bird-sized vertebrates.

 

[sasker]

Bird eater is a common name and not scientific at all. You can call a tarantula whatever you want, but it will not be scientific. Some names stick, but it does not make sense to use common name because they are usually quite silly.

For example, Lasiodora parahybana is called by some the 'Salmon Pink Bird eater'. This name suggests that this tarantula eats salmon pink birds. That's what I mean. Quite silly

 

[Edan bandoot]

The late 17th - early 18th century naturalist and illustrator Anna Maria Sybilla Merian drew pictures from her observations of [apparently] an Avicularia avicularia eating a bird.

Read this article: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/maria-sibylla-merian-metamorphosis-art-and-science.html
Scroll down toward the bottom of the page, and you can see the dark spider with pink toes sitting atop its avian prey. The genus name "Avicularia" is derived from Latin for 'little bird', as in 'little bird-spider.'

But the earlier answer given by @cold blood is right. Nowadays, the term 'bird eater' (and variants) is reserved for large terrestrial South American tarantulas, which would presumably have a better chance than a cute little Avic at being able to overpower bird-sized vertebrates.

https://www.reddit.com/r/HardcoreNature/comments/iep353

 

[MrGhostMantis]

Some scientist looked at it and said "wow that is an absolute unit of a spood, I bet it could eat a bird" and now we call them bird eaters

basically

 

[Wolfram1]

you might as well question why you call an entire family of spiders very much distinct from true spiders after one species?

Lycosa tarantula, a Wolfspider

also for us german speaking folk, they are all called "Vogelspinne" meaning bird-spider not tarantula
as dave mentioned above it was based on the observations of a lady and the associated depictions she brought back with her

 

[The Grym Reaper]

"Birdeater" is a generic term that gets slapped on any medium - large NW terrestrial species. It's basically the American equivalent of "Earth Tiger" for Asian species, "Baboon" for African species, or "Ornamental" for Poecilotheria.

 

[MikeofBorg]

I raise and release Bobwhite Quail in Ohio as another hobby. My big female A. geniculata could easily take down a few day old quail chick. I wouldn't do that though, crickets and roaches along with a occasional horn worm is her table fare.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

So yes I’m aware that the title is mainly used for the Theraphosa genus, but I’m wondering, is any T with the title bird eater gain it due to size or because it can do what the name implies?

A quick search found on National Geographic:

Goliaths don’t usually eat birds, but they are big enough to be able to—and occasionally they do. “Birdeater” came from an 18th-century engraving that showed another kind of tarantula eating a hummingbird, which gave the entire Theraphosa genus the name birdeater.

UPDATE: Sorry just changed my tarantulas with wings to this.

 

[Nebs Tarantulas]

Huh…I love how useful this place is for the oddest questions

 

[mack1855]

Makes a person wonder...how many little birds passed by that 9in P.rufilata or ornata in the Indian subcontinent,and were grabbed mid flight..