Michael D. Kern / Kaleidoscope pattern formed from picture of Greenbottle blue tarantula (Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens) - see original image number 01482830 EMBARGOED FOR NAT GEO UNTIL the end of 2015

Emanuele Biggi / Peruvian Tarantula (Pamphobeteus sp.) and Humming Frog (Chiasmocleis royi) together, Los Amigos Biological Station, Madre de Dios, Amazonia, Peru. These species have a commensal relationship. The tara...

Emanuele Biggi / Peruvian Tarantula (Pamphobeteus sp.) adult, walking over Humming Frog (Chiasmocleis royi) without preying on it. Los Amigos Biological Station, Madre de Dios, Amazonia, Peru. These species have a com...

Alex Hyde / Baboon Spider (Pterinochilus murinus) in aggressive posture, photographed on a white background. Captive, originating from Africa.

Michael D. Kern / Venezuelan Sun Tiger Tarantula / Devil tree spider (Psalmopoeus irminia), captive from Venezuela

Michael D. Kern / Ivory Ornamental Tarantulas (Poecilotheria subfusca) from Sri Lanka

Michael D. Kern / Columbian Giant Redleg Tarantula, (Megaphobema robustum) ventral view, captive from South America

Michael D. Kern / Costa Rican Redleg Tarantula (Megaphobema mesomelas), captive from South America

Michael D. Kern / Green bottle blue Tarantula, (Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens) captive from Venezuela

John Abbott / Chilean rose / flame / fire / red-haired tarantula (Grammostola rosea) female, from South America

John Abbott / Chilean rose / flame / fire / red-haired tarantula (Grammostola rosea) pair mating, female on left, male on right, from South America

B&S Draker / Texas Brown Tarantula (Aphonopelma hentzi) adult at sunset in defense posture. Sinton, Corpus Christi, Coastal Bend, Texas, USA, May.

Michael D. Kern / Mexican red leg tarantula {Brachypelma emilia} captive, Mexico

Ingo Arndt / Mexican beauty spider {Brachypelma boehmi} Mexico

Rod Williams / Mexican red-knee tarantula {Brachypelma smithii}. Captive.

Rolf Nussbaumer / Brown tarantula in defensive pose {Aphonopelma hentzi} Texas, USA.

Piotr Naskrecki / Mexican Red Rump Tarantula (Brachypelma vagans), Belize

Gerry Ellis / Mexican Red-knee Tarantula (Brachypelma smithi), Mexico

Mark Moffett / Peruvian Pinktoe Tarantula (Avicularia urticans) walking on water after being flooded from its nest, Amazonian ecosystem, Peru

Mark Moffett / Ecuadorian Brown Velvet Tarantula (Megaphobema velvetosoma) shedding its skin (cuticle), Ecuador

Mark Moffett / Ecuadorian Brown Velvet Tarantula (Megaphobema velvetosoma) shedding its skin (cuticle), Ecuador

Mark Moffett / Peruvian Pinktoe Tarantula (Avicularia urticans) eating tree frog, Amazon, Peru

Mark Moffett / Green and Black Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobates auratus) meets a Tarantula, Taboga Island, Panama Tarantulas eat frogs but avoid Poison Dart Frogs, yet on Taboga, such encounters are common and Tarantul...

Pascal Kobeh / Goliath birdeater spider (Theraphosa leblondi). Tresor Regional Nature Reserve, French Guiana.

Pascal Kobeh / Goliath birdeater spider (Theraphosa leblondi). Tresor Regional Nature Reserve, French Guiana.

Emanuele Biggi / European true tarantula (Lycosa tarantula), adult female hunting out of its burrow at night, France. July.

Emanuele Biggi / European true tarantula (Lycosa tarantula), adult male approaching a female's burrow for mating, Plain de Coussouls, Saint Martin de Crau, France, July.

Emanuele Biggi / European true tarantula (Lycosa tarantula), adult female active at night, Plain de Coussouls, Saint Martin de Crau, France, July.

Robert Pickett / Togo or Starburst baboon spider, (Hetroscodra maculata), captive from West Africa,

Konrad Wothe / Tarantula (Theraphosidae) coastal rainforest, Mata Atlantica, Bahia, Brazil.

Mark Taylor / Chilean Rose Tarantula (Grammostola rosea), occurs in South America.

Mark Taylor / Chilean Rose Tarantula (Grammostola rosea). South America.

Morley Read / Tarantula (Avicularia sp.) on a rainforest leaf. family Yasuni National Park, Ecuador.

Bruno D'Amicis / Tarantula in Cupeyal del Norte sector, Humboldt National Park, Cuba.

John Cancalosi / Desert tarantula (Aphonopelma spp.), Sonoran Desert, Arizona, USA, July.

MYN / Joao P. Burini / Tarantula (Homoeomma montanum) male with a damaged leg, Atlantic forest, Itatiaia National Park, Brazil. Meetyourneighbours.net project.

Morley Read / Pink-toed tarantula (Avicularia) on leaf, Amazon rainforest, Pastaza Province, Ecuador.

Morley Read / Pink-toed tarantula (Avicularia) retreating into its nest, Amazon rainforest, Pastaza Province, Ecuador.

Morley Read / Pink-toed tarantula (Avicularia) retreating into its nest, Amazon rainforest, Pastaza Province, Ecuador.

Duncan Murrell / Tarantula (Phormingochilus everetti) on leaf litter in the Danum Valley Conservation Area lowland dipterocarp rainforest, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.

Melvin Grey / Orange-kneed tarantula (Megaphobema mesomelas) adult female, Atlantic Slope Cloud Forest, Costa Rica.

Emanuele Biggi / Peruvian Tarantula (Pamphobeteus sp.) young communally feeding on a treefrog (Scinax ictericus) left for them by their mother, Los Amigos Biological Station, Madre de Dios, Amazonia, Peru.

Emanuele Biggi / Peruvian Tarantula (Pamphobeteus sp.) adult and young emerging from their communal burrow at night, Los Amigos Biological Station, Madre de Dios, Amazonia, Peru.

Emanuele Biggi / Peruvian Tarantula (Pamphobeteus sp.) adult and young emerging from their communal burrow at night, Los Amigos Biological Station, Madre de Dios, Amazonia, Peru.

Emanuele Biggi / Theraphosidae spider, possibly Peruvian Tarantula (Pamphobeteus sp.) young feeding on an Amazon sheep frog (Hamptophryne boliviana). Los Amigos Biological Station, Madre de Dios, Amazonia, Peru.

Emanuele Biggi / Peruvian Tarantula (Pamphobeteus sp.), young individual parasitized by Phoridae fly larvae, Los Amigos Biological Station, Madre de Dios, Amazonia, Peru.

Emanuele Biggi / Peruvian Tarantula (Pamphobeteus sp.). young feeding on a cockroach left for it by its mother, Los Amigos Biological Station, Madre de Dios, Amazonia, Peru.

Emanuele Biggi / Peruvian Tarantula (Pamphobeteus sp.) young emerging from their communal burrow at night, Los Amigos Biological Station, Madre de Dios, Amazonia, Peru.