One of the most beautiful tarantulas and for sure the best known tarantula from Costa Rica is the Megaphobema mesomelas.
Described in 1892 by O.P. Cambridge as Eurypelma mesomelas. Valerio placed the species mesomelas into the genus Brachypelma in 1980. And final, Schmidt placed mesomelas into the genus Megaphobema. In his 1991 revision Schmidt does mention a number of differences with the until then only other species in the genus: Megophobema robustum.
Detail leg IV
Habitat Megaphobema mesomelas
Megaphobema mesomelas in burrow.
Megaphobema mesomelas can be found at higher elevations in the cloud forest. The bst known reserve is the Monteverde cloud forest reserve. The cloud forest is a unique habitat. It is colder then the lowlands, both during the day as well as during the night.
While there is a distinct wet and dry season, the humidity is high all year round.
Santa Elena, the gateway to the Monteverde cloudforest reserve.
