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  • - [Voiceover] This is the red-kneed tarantula.

  • She's got quite the outfit.

  • Unfortunately, her striking features

  • have made her a hot commodity in the illegal pet trade.

  • Found in the forests of southwestern Mexico,

  • red-kneeds are some of the largest spiders,

  • growing up to eight inches in size.

  • Besides size,

  • their beautiful red, white, black and orange hairs

  • are what separates them from other spiders.

  • The hairs on their legs are used to sense vibrations

  • from predators and prey.

  • They prey on large insects, frogs and mice,

  • biting and injecting them with their venom.

  • Their alluring look has made them

  • the most popular captive tarantula,

  • causing a major population decline.

  • Today, regulations are in place requiring permits

  • to remove any of these beauties from the wild.

  • This is the red-kneed tarantula.

- [Voiceover] This is the red-kneed tarantula.

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