Tarantulas are getting increasingly popular as the days go by. And that’s a good thing since they are fascinating creatures. However, despite their popularity as exotic pets, there is still so much people need to learn about these beautiful arachnids. One question that often arises in a conversation about tarantula-related terminologies is – what are male tarantulas called? Although it may seem like a trivial question, knowing the answer is actually quite crucial for a variety of reasons.
The Importance Of Knowing The Male Tarantula’s Name
Recognizing and knowing the individual names of male and female tarantulas is crucial for various reasons. Firstly, it allows people to distinguish male and female tarantulas when referring to them. Being able to do this is extremely important when caring for or differentiating them by sex. Knowing their names is also necessary since males and females tarantulas have different behaviors and reproductive systems.
Additionally, researchers and wildlife enthusiasts studying tarantulas in the wild rely on knowing the male tarantula’s name to gain valuable insights into their behavior and mating rituals. Understanding these behaviors is essential for tarantula conservation and management, as it helps to comprehend wild tarantulas’ population dynamics and reproductive biology.
Assigning group and sex-specific names to tarantulas enables biologists to communicate effectively about them without confusion or misinterpretation. Naming animals this way is fundamental when studying animal populations globally or collaborating on worldwide conservation efforts.
What Are Male Tarantulas Called?
Male tarantulas do not have sex-specific names like cattle and hedgehogs. Rather, they are generally called generic names like “males” or “male tarantulas.” Additionally, more specific terms can be used to refer to male tarantulas, depending on their category. Tarantulas can be categorized based on their age, nature, or even species. As an example, its quite common for an adult male blue fang tarantula to be referred to as a ”male blue fang tarantula” while a newly hatched indian ornamental tarantula to be referred to as a ”male indian ornamental spiderling”. If only the sex of the tarantula is known, then the tarantula can just be outrightly referred to as a ”male tarantula”.
However, one term that’s important to know since it’s currently used by the scientific community, tarantula enthusiasts, and breeders is “mature males.” This term refers to male tarantulas that have reached sexual maturity and are capable of mating with a mature female tarantula.
Why Do Male Tarantulas Not Have Sex-Specific Names?
Please be advised that the following explanations regarding why male tarantulas are not assigned gender-specific names are mere speculations and not established facts. The reasons stated below are based solely on our own opinions.
These are the reasons why we feel male tarantulas are not given sex-specific names like some other animals.
Tarantulas Are Not Domestic Animals
Domestic animals such as horses, cattle, dogs, and cats are usually given sex-specific names, while most wild animals, including sharks, flies, and elephants, are not. This is one of the reasons why we believe tarantulas are not given gender-specific names.
Just because tarantulas are popular in the exotic pet trade and are owned by millions of people worldwide doesn’t mean they can be out rightly referred to as domestic animals. This point can be reiterated in the fact that tarantulas are actually called ”exotic pets.” An exotic pet refers to any animal that is not commonly kept as a household pet. These animals include snakes, tarantulas, hedgehogs, goldfish, monkeys, and bears. Generally, exotic pets are those animals that require specialized care and may pose unique health and safety risks to their owners and the public. Tarantulas fall in this category because they require specific expertise and attention.
Tarantulas can be dangerous if mishandled and can easily harm people with their venomous bites and urticating hairs. And unlike other domesticated animals, such as dogs and cats, tarantulas cannot experience complex emotions like love and sorrow. Their limited emotional capacity means they are unlikely to form an emotional bond with a human, no matter how long they live with the person. This is because they aren’t wired to be human companions. That’s why it’s essential to research and consult with a veterinarian or experienced tarantula keeper before bringing one into your home.
Male And Female Tarantulas Are Sometimes Too Physically Similar
We also believe that tarantulas are not assigned gender-specific names since most of them cannot be easily differentiated based on their physical attributes.
Not all tarantulas display visible sexual dimorphism – physical differences between the sexes – that would justify the use of gender-specific names, unlike other animals that have such distinctions. For example, male and female lions have distinct physical differences such as size, weight, and, most importantly, the presence of a mane in males. These physical differences make it easy to differentiate between male and female lions, leading to the creation of distinct names to denote each sex. Male lions are referred to as “lions,” while female lions are called “lionesses.”
This is not the case with all tarantulas since both male and female tarantulas usually have similar physical characteristics, making it difficult to distinguish between the sexes based on appearance alone. Nevertheless, it’s important to note that some tarantulas are sexually dimorphic. An example of a sexually dimorphic tarantula is the brazilian black and white tarantula. Generally, male brazilian black and white tarantulas have a smaller physique and darker coloring. In contrast, females have a larger body size and brighter hues.
Conclusion
Though tarantulas do not have gender-specific names, it’s still crucial to use generic names like ”male tarantulas” and ”male spiderlings” when referring to them. This is particularly important if you are a tarantula owner or an animal enthusiast. Failure to distinguish tarantulas with these names can result in confusion, especially when communicating with breeders, researchers, or other tarantula enthusiasts about gender-specific tarantula-related topics.
