Davus sp. 'Panama' (Panama pink tarantula) 0.5"

Species Overview

Davus sp. ‘Panama’ is a small, undescribed terrestrial burrowing tarantula from Panama, referred to here as the Panama pink tarantula and also known within the hobby as the lava tarantula or lava spider. It was previously circulated as Theraphosinae sp. ‘Panama’. Mature females have a compact, robust build and a broad carapace covered with short, velvety black setae. The chelicerae and distal leg segments range from charcoal-gray to blue-black, with longer pale gray setae producing a subtle silvery cast under direct light. Dense salmon-red to coppery-orange setae cover the coxae, trochanters, and much of the femora, forming a vivid reddish field around the otherwise black carapace and contrasting abruptly with the dark patellae and remaining leg segments. The abdomen has a black ground color and is clothed in long, vivid red-orange setae. These setae are densest laterally and posteriorly, leaving a broad dark median field and several dark transverse bands that interrupt the red-orange areas along the sides and posterior portion of the abdomen. Freshly molted specimens display the darkest black coloration and strongest red-orange contrast, while these colors may fade toward rust or reddish-brown later in the molt cycle. Mature males are slimmer and have proportionally longer legs but retain the same general pattern.

Spiderlings differ substantially from mature specimens. Early instars possess translucent pale pink to salmon-colored legs, a dark gray to black carapace, and a smoky gray or brown abdomen covered with fine pinkish setae. The legs progressively darken with growth while the reddish setae become denser and more saturated, gradually producing the characteristic adult pattern. 

In captivity, Davus sp. ‘Panama’ grows at a moderate-to-fast pace and readily excavates beneath cork bark or enlarges a provided starter retreat. Individuals frequently line the retreat and surrounding substrate with silk, and established juveniles and adults may remain visible at or near the entrance when not in premolt. This species generally attempts to retreat or draw its legs tightly over its body when disturbed, although it can move quickly and has urticating hairs it may use defensively.

• Common Name: Panama pink tarantula, lava tarantula, lava spider
• Native Range: Panama; precise locality and geographic extent remain unpublished
• Life Habit: Terrestrial opportunistic burrower
• Adult Size: 3.5–4.5 inches in diagonal leg span
• Lifespan: Males approximately 2–4 years; females commonly estimated at 8–12+ years under optimal conditions, although species-specific longevity records remain limited
• Temperament: Generally reclusive and prone to retreat; capable of rapid movement when disturbed
• Care Difficulty: Moderate; small spiderlings require attentive moisture management

Davus sp. ‘Panama’ Care

Davus sp. ‘Panama’ adapts well to captivity when provided with a secure enclosure, adequate substrate for burrowing, moderate moisture, and proper ventilation. The small size of spiderlings requires particular attention to both hydration and containment. Their substrate should not be allowed to become completely dry, but persistently saturated conditions, condensation, and stagnant air should also be avoided. Once established and past the smallest spiderling stages, this species becomes considerably more tolerant of minor environmental variations.

• Enclosure: 1 oz condiment cup or equivalent for spiderlings, upgraded as needed with growth; 9” x 7” x 6” or larger terrestrial enclosure for adults.
• Substrate: Coconut fiber, peat moss, topsoil, or a similar moisture-retentive substrate with sufficient depth to permit burrowing. Provide a partially buried piece of cork bark or similar enclosure décor as a starter retreat.
• Temperature: 72–82°F.
• Humidity: Keep approximately 50% of the substrate moist while allowing the remainder to remain drier. For very small spiderlings, prevent the lower substrate layers from drying completely. Maintain good ventilation and avoid saturated substrate, standing water, or persistent condensation.
• Diet: Fruit flies, crickets, cockroaches, and other appropriately sized feeder insects.
• Feeding: Spiderlings can be offered appropriately sized prey once or twice weekly. Juveniles and adults are typically fed every 7–14 days, with feeding frequency adjusted according to prey size, growth rate, and the condition of the individual animal.
• Water: Provide droplets on the enclosure wall, cork bark, or webbing for small spiderlings. Provide a water dish once the spider is large enough to use one safely. Lightly moisten the designated portion of substrate as needed without saturating the entire setup.
• Routine Maintenance: Remove uneaten prey, monitor moisture levels, and spot-clean when necessary.

Natural History

The genus Davus was established by Octavius Pickard-Cambridge in 1892 for Davus fasciatus. It was later placed in synonymy with Cyclosternum before being restored and redefined. Four formally described species are currently recognized: D. fasciatus, D. pentaloris, D. ruficeps, and D. santos. Of these, D. fasciatus is recorded from Costa Rica and Panama, while D. santos is known only from Panama. The morphology of D. fasciatus clearly excludes it as an identity for the hobby animal, leaving D. santos as the only described species to which Davus sp. ‘Panama’ could plausibly have belonged. The two are quite similar in general appearance. Both possess a dark ground color with extensive reddish-orange setae and conspicuous abdominal patterning, making confusion based on external appearance understandable. Davus santos was not described until 2016 and remained poorly known within the hobby. By then, this animal was already circulating as Theraphosinae sp. ‘Panama’, and that provisional designation persisted without a confirmed generic or specific placement.

In 2022, members of the Theraphosid Research Team, including Volker von Wirth, examined preserved males and females from two Panamanian localities. The lateral abdominal pattern, single central spermathecal receptaculum, apical keel on the male palpal bulb, and presence of type III urticating setae supported placement in Davus. Comparison of the reproductive structures with those of D. santos also demonstrated that the two were not conspecific. The provisional designation Davus sp. ‘Panama’ was therefore proposed for the hobby animal.

In 2025, without knowledge of that earlier conclusion, we independently examined the palpal bulbs of a mature male from the captive hobby population. They likewise did not match those of D. santos, corroborating the earlier conclusion. Because D. santos was the only described species that could reasonably have represented this animal, these independent findings leave little doubt that Davus sp. ‘Panama’ is a distinct, undescribed species. It continues to lack a valid scientific species name only because it has not yet been formally described and named through a taxonomic publication.

The native distribution of this species cannot presently be stated more precisely than Panama. No published field study has documented its habitat, elevation, retreat construction, seasonal activity, diet, or reproductive biology. Ecological observations published for D. santos should not automatically be applied to Davus sp. ‘Panama’ merely because the two species are similar in appearance and may occur in close proximity. Captive observations consistently demonstrate terrestrial burrowing and substantial use of silk around the retreat; however, these husbandry observations should not be presented as a substitute for ecological data collected in the wild.