Mexican redknee tarantula

Bí o ṣe lè dá a mọ̀

• Males and females are large, with bodies about 4 to 6 cm long, not counting the fangs and spinnerets.1
• Legs and palps (the short leg-like parts near the mouth) are bluish black with reddish orange and pale pink rings.1
• Adult males have a yellowish brown carapace (the hard top of the front body) and a black upper abdomen.1
• Adult females vary more. The carapace may be mostly bluish black with a light brown border, or have a dark starburst pattern.1

A sábà máa ń ṣì í mọ̀ sí: It is often confused with Brachypelma hamorii, which has very similar colours. The two can be told apart by two brownish pink bands on the chelicerae (the fang-bearing parts), which are present in B. hamorii but absent in B. smithi. Mature males can also be told apart by the shape of the palpal bulb, which is straighter and spoon-shaped in B. smithi.1