Aphonopelma seemanni, commonly known as the Costa Rican Zebra or Striped-Knee Tarantula, is a popular New World terrestrial tarantula native to Central America, primarily Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Honduras. 
 
Key Characteristics
Appearance: These spiders are recognized by their dark black or brown base colour with distinctive white or cream longitudinal stripes on their patellae (knees). Freshly moulted individuals often display a subtle blue or metallic sheen on their fangs and legs.
Size: They reach a diagonal leg span of approximately 10–13 cm (4–5 inches), with females being slightly larger and bulkier than males.
Lifespan: Females are long-lived, often reaching 15–20 years, while males typically live between 5 and 10 years.
Temperament: Generally considered docile and hardy, they are a staple for beginners. However, they can be skittish and fast-moving when startled, often choosing to retreat into their burrows rather than act defensively. 
 
Care and Husbandry
As of 2026, they remain one of the most common species in the exotic pet hobby due to their manageable care requirements. 
Habitat: They are obligate burrowers and require deep substrate (at least 4–6 inches) to facilitate their natural digging behavior.
Temperature: They thrive at standard room temperatures, ideally between 22°C and 28°C (72–82°F).
Humidity: They require moderate to high humidity levels of 60–80%. This can be maintained by keeping a portion of the substrate damp and providing a shallow water dish.
Diet: They are opportunistic predators that feed on gut-loaded insects such as crickets, roaches, and mealworms. 
 
Defence Mechanisms
Like most New World tarantulas, their primary defence is the use of urticating hairs, which they can flick from their abdomen to irritate the skin or eyes of predators. Their venom is considered mild and is not medically significant to healthy humans, with bites being extremely rare.