The Hardest Tarantula to Find in the World? (+ Giant Malaysian Earth Tiger)

I tried finding the Electric Blue Tarantula 3 times. I failed every single time. This is the story of two countries, three expeditions, and my ongoing quest to film some of the world's most elusive tarantulas in the wild — the Malaysian Earth Tiger (Omothymus schioedtei) and the Electric Blue Tarantula (Chilobrachys natanicharum). The Earth Tiger lives 10-20 meters up in massive dipterocarp trees. The Electric Blue only emerges in Thai mangroves during dry season — and I kept arriving in the rainy season. Three trips. Zero target species filmed wild. But the jungle doesn't care about your shot list. Sometimes you take what it gives you. In this video: → Why arboreal earth tigers are nearly impossible to find (they're called "earth" tigers but live in trees?) → The Malaysian Purple-Femur Tarantula we found instead at Fraser's Hill → Captive footage of the Omothymus schioedtei — watching her stridulate at 13,000 Hz → The science behind the Electric Blue's structural coloration (there's no blue pigment) → Thailand Golden Fringe Tarantula found wild — the consolation prize → Why timing is everything when searching for mangrove tarantulas --- 🕷️ SPECIES FEATURED: Omothymus schioedtei — Malaysian Earth Tiger Tarantula • One of the largest arboreal tarantulas in Southeast Asia (22cm leg span) • Lives in tree hollows 10-20+ meters high in primary rainforest • Female wasn't formally described until 2025 • Can stridulate for up to 9 seconds at ~13,000 Hz Chilobrachys natanicharum — Electric Blue Tarantula • Described in 2023 from Thai mangrove forests • First tarantula ever found in Thai mangroves • Blue coloration is structural, not pigment — same physics as morpho butterflies • Easy to find in dry season, impossible in rainy season Coremiocnemis hoggi — Malaysian Purple-Femur Tarantula • Found at Fraser's Hill (~1,200m elevation) • Extremely limited range (~10 square miles) • Fossorial species with silk-sealed burrow entrances Ornithoctonus aureotibialis — Thailand Golden Fringe Tarantula • Fossorial old-world tarantula • Signature golden fringe running down the legs • Found wild during the Thailand expedition --- 📍 FILMING LOCATIONS: • Peninsular Malaysia — Lowland rainforest & offshore islands • Fraser's Hill, Malaysia — Highland montane forest (1,200m) • Phang Nga Province, Thailand — Mangrove forests --- 🔬 REFERENCES & FURTHER READING: Chomphuphuang et al. (2023) — Original description of C. natanicharum --- ⚠️ NOTE: All wildlife encounters were conducted with respect for the animals and their habitats. No tarantulas were harmed or removed from the wild during filming. #tarantula #electricbluetarantula #omothymus #wildlife #malaysia --- Visit Our Website https://www.birdspiders.ch Enjoy Our Podcast with TarantulaKat https://anchor.fm/bothworldtarantulas Support This Project!   / birdspiders   Find Us On Facebook   / birdspidersch   Taxonomy & Systematics Group - Arácnido   / 1149292842136929   Wild Spiders & Tarantula Group   / 933372297053034   #tarantulas #wild_tarantulas #lovetarantulas