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What the sources say

Chilean Rose TarantulaGrammostola rosea

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Chilean Rose Tarantula profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 36 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Chilean rose tarantula. Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

The page saysDesert and scrub habitats across Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia
The source saysThe Chilean rose tarantula is native to Chile, Argentina and Bolivia in desert and scrub habitats.Note: stats.habitat
The page saysA variety of invertebrates, plus small vertebrates such as mice, frogs, and lizards
The source saysChilean rose tarantulas are active predators, feeding on a variety of invertebrates as well as small vertebrates like mice, frogs and lizards.Note: stats.diet
The page saysThis is a medium-sized tarantula that lives on the ground. Females average a leg span of 12 to 13 centimeters and males about 9 centimeters, though males have proportionally longer legs.
The source saysThe Chilean rose tarantula is a medium-sized terrestrial tarantula, with females averaging a leg span of 5 inches (12-13 centimeters). Males average closer to 3.5 inches (9 centimeters) but have proportionally longer legs than females.
The page saysFemales live up to twenty years in human care, far outliving males, which die within a few months of mating.
The source saysFemales live up to 20 years in human care, significantly longer than males. Males pass away a few months after mating.
The page saysTo grow, it must go through several molts, and spiderlings molt five or six times in their first year.
The source saysIn order to grow, Chilean rose tarantulas must go through several molts. Molting is the process by which the tarantula sheds its old exoskeleton and emerges in a new, larger one. Spiderlings can be expected to molt five or six times in their first year.
The page saysThe species is native to desert and scrub habitat across Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia, where it hunts at night.
The source saysThe Chilean rose tarantula is native to Chile, Argentina and Bolivia in desert and scrub habitats ... Chilean rose tarantulas prefer to hunt at night.
The page saysIt feeds on a variety of invertebrates as well as small vertebrates such as mice, frogs, and lizards, relying on its size to subdue them.
The source saysChilean rose tarantulas are active predators, feeding on a variety of invertebrates as well as small vertebrates like mice, frogs and lizards. Tarantulas hunt at night and rely on their large size to subdue prey.
The page saysIt can throw irritating hairs from its body in defense
The source saysThese spiders can throw irritating hairs from their body in defense.

Source
02

Parry 1957

Parry (1957). Spider Leg-muscles and the Autotomy Mechanism. Journal of Cell Science.

The page sayswith no extensor muscles at two leg joints
The source saysSpider leg-muscles have been redescribed and the absence of extensor muscles at two joints confirmed.Note: tagline; Parry's scope is spiders in general (abstract names no species; paper closed, 403)
The page saysNo extensor muscles at two leg joints, where blood pressure may work against the flexors
The source saysSpider leg-muscles have been redescribed and the absence of extensor muscles at two joints confirmed. The possibility that the flexors at these joints act in antagonism to the blood-pressure is discussed.Note: stats.superpower; 'may' keeps the source's 'possibility'
The page saysSpiders have flexor muscles to pull their legs in, but a 1957 study of spider leg muscles confirmed that they have no extensor muscles at two of their leg joints.
The source saysSpider leg-muscles have been redescribed and the absence of extensor muscles at two joints confirmed.Note: scope: spiders in general, as the abstract states
The page saysThe study raised the possibility that the flexors there work against the spider's own blood pressure, so that haemolymph, the fluid inside its body, would do the straightening a muscle normally does.
The source saysThe possibility that the flexors at these joints act in antagonism to the blood-pressure is discussed.Note: 'act in antagonism to the blood-pressure' glossed; hedge kept
The page saysA 1957 anatomical study of spider legs confirmed that spiders lack extensor muscles at two leg joints, leaving only flexors, the muscles that pull a limb in.
The source saysSpider leg-muscles have been redescribed and the absence of extensor muscles at two joints confirmed.Note: FAQ 3; 'flexor' defined in plain words
The page saysThe author suggested those flexors may work in opposition to the spider's blood pressure, which would then push the leg straight.
The source saysThe possibility that the flexors at these joints act in antagonism to the blood-pressure is discussed.Note: FAQ 3; hedge kept
The page saysTwo Joints Without Extensors
The source saysSpider leg-muscles have been redescribed and the absence of extensor muscles at two joints confirmed.Note: heading

Source
03

Canals, Veloso & Solís 2015

Canals, Veloso & Solís (2015). Adaptation of the spiders to the environment: the case of some Chilean species. Frontiers in Physiology.

The page saysa metabolism that slows when food runs short
The source saysa metabolic depression at 30°C with food deprivation has been reported in G. roseaNote: tagline
The page saysa difference in oxygen partial pressure of just 0.12 to 0.16 kilopascals across the lung barrier covers its resting oxygen needs, against about 7.5 kilopascals that mammals require
The source saysa difference of oxygen partial pressure of only 0.12–0.16 kPa is sufficient to sustain their energy requirements, which is very impressive compared to about 7.5 kPa that mammals require
The page sayslungs are so refined
The source saysThe lungs of mygalomorph spiders have been reported as highly refined. For example, in G. rosea the harmonic mean of the air-barrier lymph is 0.14 ± 0.03 μm, with high respiratory surface and a large lung volume, which determines a high oxygen diffusion capacity.
The page saysAmong spiders it counts as large, at more than 14 grams.
The source saysIn Grammostola rosea , a large spider of more than14 g, a metabolic rate of 0.027 ± 0.01 mlO 2 /gh was found, which corresponds to 63.3% of the expected value for other spiders of its body mass.
The page saysIts metabolic rate is 63 percent of the value expected for other spiders of its body mass
The source saysIn Grammostola rosea , a large spider of more than14 g, a metabolic rate of 0.027 ± 0.01 mlO 2 /gh was found, which corresponds to 63.3% of the expected value for other spiders of its body mass.Note: 63.3%, rounded to 63%
The page saysresearchers have recorded that rate dropping at 30°C when it is deprived of food
The source saysa metabolic depression at 30°C with food deprivation has been reported in G. rosea
The page saysMeasured by oxygen use, it burns energy at about 63 percent of the rate expected for a spider of its body mass
The source saysIn Grammostola rosea , a large spider of more than14 g, a metabolic rate of 0.027 ± 0.01 mlO 2 /gh was found, which corresponds to 63.3% of the expected value for other spiders of its body mass.Note: FAQ 1; 63.3%, rounded to 63%; rate is in mlO2/gh
The page saysDeprive it of food and the rate falls further, a metabolic depression researchers have reported at 30°C.
The source saysa metabolic depression at 30°C with food deprivation has been reported in G. roseaNote: FAQ 1
The page saysmetabolic rate is 63 percent of the value expected for other spiders of its body mass
The source saysIn Grammostola rosea , a large spider of more than14 g, a metabolic rate of 0.027 ± 0.01 mlO 2 /gh was found, which corresponds to 63.3% of the expected value for other spiders of its body mass.Note: vibe.reason, settled in #913; 63.3% rounded
The page saysdrops further when it is deprived of food
The source saysa metabolic depression at 30°C with food deprivation has been reported in G. roseaNote: vibe.reason, settled in #913

Source
04

Kimura, Ono & Kubo 2012

Kimura, Ono & Kubo (2012). Molecular Cloning and Sequence Analysis of the cDNAs Encoding Toxin-Like Peptides from the Venom Glands of Tarantula Grammostola rosea. International Journal of Peptides.

The page saysScientists sequencing genes from Grammostola rosea venom glands predicted forty-eight new toxin-like peptides from the sequences.
The source sayswe present the identification of venom components obtained by sequencing clones isolated from a cDNA library prepared from the venom glands of the Chilean common tarantula, Grammostola rosea ... Forty-eight novel toxin-like peptides (GTx1 to GTx7, and GTx-TCTP and GTx-CRISP) were predicted from the nucleotide sequences.Note: also covers the heading 'Forty-Eight Toxin-Like Peptides'
The page saysForty-Eight Toxin-Like Peptides
The source saysForty-eight novel toxin-like peptides (GTx1 to GTx7, and GTx-TCTP and GTx-CRISP) were predicted from the nucleotide sequences.Note: heading

Source
05

Kimura 2021

Kimura (2021). Stability and Safety of Inhibitor Cystine Knot Peptide, GTx1-15, from the Tarantula Spider Grammostola rosea. Toxins.

The page saysOne of them, GTx1-15, inhibits one voltage-dependent calcium channel and two voltage-dependent sodium channels.
The source saysGTx1-15 is an ICK peptide that inhibits the voltage-dependent calcium channel Ca v 3.1 and the voltage-dependent sodium channels Na v 1.3 and Na v 1.7.

Source
06

Gooley et al. 2025

Gooley et al. (2025). A Case Report of Delayed, Severe, Paroxysmal Muscle Cramping after Chilean Rose Tarantula (Grammostola rosea) Envenomation. Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine.

The page saysdoctors studying tarantula bites note that New World species like this one typically cause injuries to people through their urticating hairs, which can penetrate skin and mucous membranes and cause local tissue reactions
The source saysTarantulas, particularly the “New World” species of North, Central and South America, typically cause injuries to humans via their urticating hairs, which can penetrate into skin and mucous membranes leading to localized tissue reactions.
The page saysThe hairs appear rose-colored on Grammostola rosea, which is where the "Chilean rose" name comes from.
The source saysUrticating hairs of G rosea appear rose-colored; hence, it is commonly known as the Chilean rose or rose hair tarantula.
The page saysDoctors reporting a bite from this species that left a woman with weeks of cramping
The source saysAfter discharge, her paroxysmal muscle cramping continued for four weeks before completely resolving.
The page saysnote that trouble with both kinds of channel could affect muscle contractions
The source saysBoth sodium- and calcium-channel dysfunction could affect muscle contractions and potentially lead to spontaneous or prolonged depolarization.
The page saysBites from this species are rare and poorly described in the medical literature.
The source saysLike Theraphosidae in general, bites from G rosea are rare and poorly described in the medical literature.
The page saysCase reports of tarantula bites in adults commonly describe local tissue damage and pain
The source saysCase reports of theraphosid bites in adults commonly describe local tissue damage and local pain.
The page saysdoctors have published a case where a Grammostola rosea bite on a woman's forearm caused severe local muscle cramping within hours, and the cramping went on for four weeks after she left hospital
The source saysA 42-year-old woman was holding a G rosea tarantula when she was bit on the forearm. Within hours, severe local muscle cramping occurred. ... After discharge, her paroxysmal muscle cramping continued for four weeks before completely resolving.
The page saysHow tarantula venom causes muscle spasms is not well understood.
The source saysThe mechanism of muscle-spasm toxicity from theraphosid envenomation is not well understood

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.