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Description of Lycosa tarantula
Physical Characteristics
Female to 30 mm.
Abdomen light brown with a not very clear cardiac mark and black and white chevrons. Ventrally black with a yellow / orange hem.
Carapace dark brown with a light brown median band which is slightly wider at the front and light brown bands on the side. Sternum black.
Legs light brown on top, very clear black and white annulated on the bottom.
Palps light brown to orange with dark points.
Male to 25 mm.
Markings and colours almost identical to the female. Underside of the abdomen, however, white with a horizontal black stripe. Sternum black with an orange pattern.
Habitat
Dry, stony places with very little vegetation.
Distribution
Occurs in the Mediterranean area.
Period
Spring and summer.
Notable
Genetic research has shown that the French species Lycosa narbonensis is equal to the famous species Lycosa tarantula.