Amazonius burgessi

Amazonius burgessi

Amazonius burgessi (formerly placed in the genus Pseudoclamoris) hails from the lowland rainforests of the Amazon basin — around Leticia in Colombia and Iquitos in Peru. It is an agile, arboreal tarantula with a delicate, almost smoky colouration that earns it the trade name "Ghost Tree". In the right light a subtle play of tones shimmers across its setae, and the whole silhouette carries something fleeting that is hard to capture in a photograph.

In captivity it is a classic arboreal species — fast and alert, organising its life high above the substrate. It spins silken retreats against vertical structures and sets out from there to hunt. It can be skittish and vanishes in the blink of an eye, so watching it is a game of reflex and patience. The way this spider moves vertically has a lightness that betrays a true canopy dweller.

A tall, well-ventilated enclosure with a vertically placed cork tube and plants over which it will stretch its web suits it well. A thin layer of slightly moist substrate and regular misting maintain the right humidity; room temperature is entirely sufficient. As a New World species it possesses urticating hairs, so we observe rather than disturb.

This is one for the keeper who values arboreal, understated species — not flashy colours at first glance, but subtlety, agility and mystery. Amazonius burgessi rewards those who love spiders that live vertically and can appreciate the beauty of half-shadow.