Diplura sp. Oliva

Diplura sp. Oliva belongs to Dipluridae, the curtain-web or funnel-web mygalomorphs. It shares the infraorder Mygalomorphae with tarantulas, yet it is not one: it is a separate family, known for spinning extensive webs. The genus Diplura ranges across South America and Cuba, and Diplura sp. Oliva is a species not yet formally described; "Oliva" is the working name used by keepers. The specimen pictured has a glossy brick-red carapace, a velvety black abdomen and greyish-brown legs. The first thing most people notice is the spinnerets, long and clearly projecting beyond the abdomen, moving like a pair of nimble fingers as the spider spins.

Rather than waiting in a ready-made hide, Diplura builds. Over time the enclosure fills with dense, pale silk: sheets stretched just above the substrate and tunnels leading back to a retreat. The spider spends most of its time at the mouth of the funnel, and the moment something touches the threads it bursts out at a speed that surprises anyone used to terrestrial tarantulas, then vanishes into the tunnel with its prey. That split second is what keeping funnel-web spiders is all about. Dipluridae have no urticating hairs and, when disturbed, usually withdraw deeper into the web.

We offer L1 spiderlings, which do best in a small, well-ventilated container. A layer of lightly moist coconut fibre is enough, topped with a piece of cork bark, a few twigs or dry leaves, as every item becomes an anchor point for silk. The substrate should be neither wet nor fully dry. Regular misting of part of the container leaves droplets on the walls for the spiderlings to drink from; a water dish only makes sense for larger specimens. Room temperature is perfectly adequate. Offer appropriately sized prey close to the mouth of the tunnel.

Diplura sp. Oliva suits keepers who already know tarantulas and want to see how differently a mygalomorph can live. Its speed and poorly studied venom make it a display animal, best kept by intermediate hobbyists. In return it offers something no tarantula can: a silk architecture that grows with the spider and looks a little different every time you look in.