Meet Goldie, Our New Tarantula!

Introducing Goldie!

Rosie, the Chilean Rose Hair tarantula, has been a part of Butterfly Pavilion’s family for nearly 30 years. And now, Butterfly Pavilion is excited to introduce our new ambassador animal the Chaco Golden Knee Tarantula and reveal her new name. This July, Butterfly Pavilion asked the public to help us choose the name for our new tarantula. With the options being Chaco, Goldie, and Oro, the numbers couldn’t lie. With over 8,000 total votes, Goldie won by a landslide!  And the winner is...Goldie!   

At Butterfly Pavilion, we foster an appreciation for invertebrates within the community through education and research so that they can participate in invertebrate conservation. One of the ways we connect guests with our mission is through hands-on learning experiences, like holding Rosie, and now Goldie. But Rosie can’t do all the work, so our new tarantula is ready to be held by guests and help educate about the wonders of the invertebrate world. Tarantulas are often vilified and judged by their appearance. When guests hold our tarantulas, they realize they aren’t scary and are an essential captivating animal worthy of our appreciation.  

Goldie, and other Chaco Golden Knee tarantulas are arachnids native to parts of Argentina and Paraguay. Their species name, “pulchripes,” translates to “beautiful foot.” This is most likely because the vibrant gold bands on their legs stand out against their dark coloration. The leg span of Chaco tarantulas can grow up to eight inches. Males live for about 5-10 years, while females can live 20-25 years! Like other arachnids, they can spin silk. However, they do not make webs to trap prey; instead, they use silk to cushion their den and eggs. They feed on other small insects like crickets and use their fangs to inject venom into their prey. Don’t worry; tarantula bites are rare unless you’re a cricket. Just like Rosie, Chacos are known for their calm and docile demeanor.   

So, come visit Butterfly Pavilion and experience holding Goldie today!   

P.S. Rosie isn’t going anywhere!  Our new tarantula is just joining in the fun for you to visit and hold her too.   

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