USA/AZ: Arizona Desert Tarantula

I’ve seen tarantulas many times in the Central American rainforests and even more abundantly in the jungles of the Amazon in Peru, Brazil, and Ecuador. But never ever in the USA, despite having hiked all over Utah and Arizona for years. But life is full of surprises and here it was – the Arizona Desert Tarantula, leisurely walking on the red rocks of the Navajo Sandstone and seemingly not paying any attention to me photographing him (or her). The desert tarantula is highly revered by the Navajo Indians, as it is associated with the motherhood and taking care of your children (tarantulas are known to let baby tarantulas eat them alive when they’re starving). There are over 50 species of tarantulas in the USA!