The Costa Rican Zebra tarantula (Aphonopelma seemanni), also known as the striped-knee tarantula, is a popular New World species admired for its sleek appearance and hardy nature. Native to the dry forests and scrublands of Central America—including Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Honduras—it is distinguished by a dark brown to black body with bold, cream-coloured stripes along its leg joints. 
 
Essential Facts
Temperament: Generally skittish rather than aggressive. They are fast runners that prefer to retreat to their burrows when startled, but they can flick urticating hairs if they feel threatened.
Lifespan: Females can live for 15 to 20 years (some reports suggest up to 30+), while males typically live between 5 and 10 years.
Size: Adults reach a diagonal leg span of 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 inches).
Lifestyle: Terrestrial and opportunistic burrowers. In the wild, they dig deep tunnels to escape extreme temperatures and maintain humidity. 
 
Captive Care Requirements
Enclosure: A 5 to 10-gallon horizontal tank is ideal for adults.
Substrate: Requires at least 10 to 15 cm (4–6 inches) of deep, diggable substrate (like coco fiber or topsoil) to support their natural burrowing instincts.
Environment:
Temperature: Maintain room temperatures between 20°C and 28°C (68–82°F).
Humidity: Prefers 65% to 80% humidity. This is typically managed by providing a shallow water dish and occasionally overflowing it to dampen one corner of the substrate.
Diet: Feed adults gut-loaded crickets, roaches, or mealworms every 1 to 2 weeks. They are known for occasional "hunger strikes" where they may refuse food for weeks or months, especially before molting. 
 
While often listed as a beginner species due to its hardiness, many keepers consider it intermediate because of its speed and skittish nature, which can make handling or rehousing more challenging than with other Aphonopelma species.