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8 Types of Tarantulas in California

8 types of tarantulas have a verified observation record in California. The most frequently recorded are Desert Tarantula, California Ebony Tarantula and Steindachner's Ebony Tarantula. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.

Quick Answer

8 types of tarantulas have a verified observation record in California. The most frequently recorded are Desert Tarantula, California Ebony Tarantula and Steindachner's Ebony Tarantula. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.

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Real sighting data, source iNaturalist

11,967 verified observations on iNaturalist of tarantula have been recorded in California, most often in October, September, August.

When tarantula are recorded in California

Verified species, source iNaturalist

8 types of tarantulas recorded in California

8 tarantula species have a verified observation record in California, each with at least 10 confirmed sightings. The full list, ranked by how often each is recorded, is below.

1 of the 8 shown is endemic to California, found here and effectively nowhere else.

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    1

    Desert Tarantula

    Aphonopelma iodius

    3,800 recordsNative
    Wikipedia
  • No openly licensed photo yet
    2

    California Ebony Tarantula

    Aphonopelma eutylenum

    2,171 recordsNative
    Wikipedia
  • No openly licensed photo yet
    3

    Steindachner's Ebony Tarantula

    Aphonopelma steindachneri

    2,106 records
    Wikipedia
  • No openly licensed photo yet
    4

    Johnny Cash Tarantula

    Aphonopelma johnnycashi

    554 recordsEndemic
    Wikipedia
  • No openly licensed photo yet
    5

    Cahuilla Ebony Tarantula

    Aphonopelma xwalxwal

    69 records
    Wikipedia
  • No openly licensed photo yet
    6

    Mojave Dwarf Tarantula

    Aphonopelma mojave

    40 records
    Wikipedia
  • No openly licensed photo yet
    7

    Aphonopelma icenoglei

    Aphonopelma icenoglei

    33 records
    Wikipedia
  • No openly licensed photo yet
    8

    Aphonopelma joshua

    Aphonopelma joshua

    23 records
    Wikipedia

Plus 3 more recorded only rarely (fewer than 10 verified sightings). Counts from verified iNaturalist observations.

The Desert Tarantula (Aphonopelma iodius) is the most commonly recorded, with 3,800 verified observations, about 43% of all tarantulas reported in California. If you spot a tarantula here, it is statistically most likely to be this one.

California also hosts less common tarantulas such as Cahuilla Ebony Tarantula, Mojave Dwarf Tarantula and Aphonopelma icenoglei, each recorded fewer than 100 times. These are the species worth a second look when you are out, since a sighting is more notable.

Johnny Cash Tarantula is endemic to California, meaning it is found here and effectively nowhere else. Those are the sightings worth reporting.