Anqasha

Anqasha sp. “Blue”

Anqasha sp. “Blue” is a striking Peruvian dwarf tarantula circulating in the hobby under informal names such as Majestic Blue Tiger. Public hobby listings are fairly consistent in describing it as a terrestrial New World dwarf with metallic blue femurs or legs, pale striping across the abdomen, and a cream-to-orange carapace. Those same listings also describe it as a species that does better on the cooler side than many common tropical tarantulas.

Because “sp. Blue” is not currently an accepted scientific species name, the appearance, behavior, and habitat notes below should be understood as hobby-based working descriptions rather than a finalized formal species account.

Common name: Majestic Blue Tiger (hobby / trade name)
Origin: Peru
Natural habitat: Likely cooler terrestrial habitat in Peru, often described in the hobby as high-elevation or Andean-influenced; best kept with good ventilation and without excessive heat.
Lifestyle: New World terrestrial dwarf tarantula; slings may burrow lightly, while larger specimens are often reported to spend more time visible on the surface.
Adult size: ~4 in (10 cm) diagonal leg span
Growth rate: Medium to fast for a dwarf species, especially in early sling stages.
Temperament: Generally described in the hobby as calm, slow-moving, and display-friendly, though individual spiders can still be skittish or defensive like any tarantula.
Color & appearance: Metallic blue legs or femurs, pale blue-to-gold tiger striping on the abdomen, and a cream to orange-golden carapace; one of the most visually distinctive dwarf tarantulas currently circulating in the hobby.

Species History

Before Anqasha became a recognized genus, the lineage now associated with it was represented in the literature by A. picta, first described in 1903. In 2022, Anqasha was established as a genus for that Peruvian species.

Later work expanded the genus, adding A. minaperinensis and A. lima. At present, however, Anqasha sp. “Blue” is not one of the accepted species names in the current catalog, so it is best presented as an undescribed or unresolved hobby form rather than a formally named species.

Natural Habitat

For Anqasha sp. “Blue,” no formal species description is currently available under that designation. As a result, habitat statements for this form cannot be treated as taxonomically established in the same way as those for described species. Current hobby usage consistently associates it with cooler terrestrial conditions in Peru, and it is therefore most appropriately described as a probable Peruvian terrestrial form that appears to tolerate moderate temperatures and good ventilation better than excessive heat. That characterization should be regarded as provisional pending formal identification.

For the described species of the genus, the available evidence supports a terrestrial lifestyle in inland Peruvian environments. In husbandry terms, this is most consistent with a setup emphasizing substrate depth, access to retreat sites, moderate moisture, and adequate airflow rather than persistently hot or stagnant conditions. The latter point is an inference from the known distribution of the genus together with the repeated hobby treatment of Anqasha sp. “Blue” as a cooler-tolerant form.

Our Specimen

Coming soon…

Anqasha picta

Anqasha picta is the type species of Anqasha and the nominal taxon on which the genus is based. It was originally described by Pocock in 1903 as Hapalopus pictus, later transferred to Homoeomma, and was reassigned to Anqasha when the genus was erected in 2022. As currently circumscribed, A. picta is one of three accepted species in the genus and is recorded from Peru. Subsequent taxonomic work, including the 2023 review of A. picta and the addition of other congeners, has helped refine the limits of the species and clarify its distinction from related Peruvian Anqasha taxa.

Common name: Anqasha Tiger Rump
Origin: Peru
Natural habitat: Peruvian inland habitat, often associated in the hobby with cooler, better-ventilated conditions than many lowland tropical tarantulas.
Lifestyle: New World terrestrial tarantula with some light burrowing behavior, especially when young.
Adult size: Small to medium-sized tarantula, often represented in the hobby around 3.5–4 in (9–10 cm) diagonal leg span.
Growth rate: Moderate.
Temperament: Generally described as calm to mildly skittish, though individual temperament can vary.
Color & appearance: Distinctive abdominal striping with contrasting darker body tones and subtle bluish coloration on the legs, giving it a refined and highly recognizable appearance.

Species History

Anqasha picta was first described in 1903 and later passed through earlier generic placements before becoming the type species of Anqasha in 2022. This taxonomic history is central to the definition of the genus, because A. picta served as the species through which the lineage was separated from older theraphosine classifications. Subsequent revisionary work clarified the interpretation of A. picta and helped distinguish it from other Peruvian members of the genus. The World Spider Catalog currently treats A. picta as an accepted species and the type species of Anqasha.

Natural Habitat

Published records place Anqasha picta in Peru. Within the genus, the available distributional evidence is consistent with an inland Peruvian lineage rather than a lowland Amazonian one, and A. picta should therefore be interpreted as a terrestrial Peruvian theraphosid associated with moderate rather than excessively hot captive conditions. In husbandry terms, this is most consistent with an enclosure providing substrate depth, access to retreat sites, moderate moisture, and adequate ventilation. Because habitat data remain limited relative to more intensively studied tarantula taxa, these conditions are best understood as conservative inferences drawn from current taxonomic placement and geographic distribution.

Our Specimen

Coming soon…