noun
Common name for large, hairy spiders of the family Theraphosidae. In Japanese, often refers to pet tarantulas or those seen in media.
See also: オオツチグモ
彼はタランチュラをペットとして飼っている。
He keeps a tarantula as a pet.
noun
Specifically refers to Lycosa tarentula, a wolf spider native to southern Europe. This usage is less common and may be encountered in older or scientific contexts.
タランチュラという名前は、もともとイタリアのコモリグモの一種を指していた。
The name 'tarantula' originally referred to a type of wolf spider from Italy.