Description
Scientific Name: Aphonopelma belindae
Common Names: Panama Gold
This is a recently discovered and identified (Source) Aphonopelma species found near the Azuero Peninsula in Panama. A medium sized tarantula growing around the 13cm to 14cm mark as adults. They are mostly a dark brown tarantula, but have a slightly lighter brown on the carapace and a lovely ash-brown on legs from the patella/knees down to their tarsi/feet, which contrast nicely with their darker femurs.
Much like many other tarantula species, they build burrows on inclined banks of hardened soil in nature that they will live in for may years to come. You might do this spider a favor by giving it some nice deep substrate and a half buried clay bot or piece of cork bark tubing that they can use as a starting burrow. Even though these are burrowing tarantulas, they will often be seen out and about in their enclosures, supposedly because they feel safer and are never exposed to any real threats that might endanger them in the wild.
Take note, this is a twitchy species, it doesn’t like to be disturbed and will be quick to react or throw it’s legs up at a potential threat. We are not aware of any bite reports but their behavior suggests that too much pestering could result in a painful bite.
Still new and relatively rare in the tarantula hobby, we hop to see more of this species available from tarantula dealers soon.