Poecilotheria fasciata (Sri Lankan Ornamental)

This is a gorgeous spider, fast, colorful and such attitude!

Playfully called 'Pokies' by those that keep them, and those should only be keepers that have kept other old-world spiders as this is a quick and aggressive spider.

First described by Latreille in 1804 in its native habitat in Sri-Lanka (thick tropical forest) they are known locally as 'Tree Spiders'.

As you would guess from the local name these spiders are generally arboreal (tree-living). However there have been a number of reports that these spiders will burrow. There are some suggestions that they start life as burrowers and as they get older they become fully arboreal. [can anyone confirm/deny this?]

Colouring: A dark abdomen with a broad central cream band edged in black, plus five oblique marks. The carapace is grey with cream markings.

The legs are banded black and white, with yellow on the underneath of the first two pairs, which is used as a warning signal to would be attackers.