Tarantulas live in subtropical, tropical and arid regions across southern North America, South America, Africa, southern Asia and coastal Australia. Most of the hundreds of species found worldwide are burrowers.
Tarantulas emerge from the ground and other cover at night to hunt insects, frogs, toads and mice. The spiders grab prey with their appendages and inject a paralyzing venom before consuming victims with their fangs. While the tarantula's large, hairy body and legs often trigger fear from humans, their painful bite contains no more venom than an average bee. The exotic nature of the tarantula makes it a popular pet among arachnid enthusiasts.