Peruvian green velvet tarantula | |
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Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
Class: | Arachnida |
Order: | Araneae |
Infraorder: | Mygalomorphae |
Family: | Theraphosidae |
Genus: | Thrixopelma |
Species: | T. pruriens
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Binomial name | |
Thrixopelma pruriens Schmidt, 1998
[1]
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Thrixopelma pruriens, known as the Peruvian green velvet tarantula, [2] is a species of tarantula found in Chile and Perú in South America. [1] [3]
Though docile, this species is rarely kept as a pet in part due to its tendency to fling urticating hairs with minimal provocation. [4]
In 2014, researchers at Yale University identified a toxin called Protoxin-I from the tarantula's venom that shows promise as a new painkiller drug. [5] The toxin reduces activity in an ion channel associated with inflammation and neuropathic pain, making it potentially suitable as a treatment for both normal pain and pathological pain syndromes. [6] [2]