A new exhibit at the Butterfly Pavilion
**Exhibit Extended to Jan. 23, 2011**

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the tarantulas be on display or out in the open and handled by zookeepers?
All of the live tarantulas are on display behind glass. We will not be able to offer visitors the opportunity to handle the rare tarantulas; however, visitors can hold Rosie, our friendly Chilean Rose Hair tarantula in the Crawl-a-See-Em.

How many rare tarantulas will be on display?
There are 23 rare tarantula species on display in the exhibit. Several of the tarantulas have never been on display before at the Butterfly Pavilion.

What types of tarantulas will be on display?
The tarantulas are from around the world, and include both terrestrial and arboreal species.

Are any of the tarantulas on display considered threatened or endangered?
Yes, several of the species have been listed “threatened” or “endangered” by CITES (the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species). The Red Rump Tarantula (Brachypelma vagans), for example, are protected in Central and South America. The Butterfly Pavilion follows all guidelines for importing and displaying threathened or endangered species.

Are the tarantulas dangerous?
Most species of tarantulas are not aggressive and quite docile; however, to maintain visitor safety all tarantulas will be kept in enclosed cases for display only.

What Do Tarantulas Eat?
Tarantulas are carnivores. They eat all kinds of insects, especially larger ones like crickets and grasshoppers, June beetles, cicadas and caterpillars. Larger tarantulas will also eat frogs, toads and small rodents.

How big can tarantulas get?
Several species of tarantula can grow to be 10 inches, but the largest on record is the Goliath Bird-eater (Theraphosa blondi), which can reach approximately one foot (12 inches) in length.

Is the exhibit text presented in more than one language?
Yes, the exhibit is bilingual and offered in both English and Spanish.