Ariel is a confirmed female by me, and she is a Brachypelma Smithi, aka the ever so popular Mexican Redknee.

This Spider's red and black striped legs with its red and black body and black abdomen seems nightmarish, but it's a very docile new world tarantula. Because of it's striking and scary looks but docile nature, it's used in shows, and movies and photography, such as in Star Trek, and in Indiana Jones during the cave scene.

Ariel hails from Mexico as her common species name suggests, going as far up the east of Mexico all the way down south where it's hot and dry.

While her kind is docile, does not mean defenseless. She is the only tarantula that ever got me good with her hairs, and from experience, they are extremely itchy.

Her kind are being taken from habitats and killed by locals seeing these spiders as bad luck. While not endangered, her species contribute to controlling pets on farms and wildlife. Why it is always important to buy animals that are bred by locals in your area.