Anindya's Guide to Mythical Creatures

Acromantula

ACROMANTULA

Common Acromantula and Mirkwood Acromantula

KINGDOM: ANIMALIA

PHYLUM: ARTHROPODA

CLASS: ARACHNIDA

ORDER: ARANEAE

INFRAORDER: MYGALOMORPHAE

CLADE: AVICULARIOIDEA

FAMILY: THERAPHOSIDAE

GENUS: BRACHYPELMA

Species:

Brachypelma Gigante

DESCRIPTION

Acromantula are large spiders the size of horse-drawn carriages that have a taste for human flesh and the ability to speak human languages.

WHERE TO FIND

Acromantula are native to the rainforests of Southeast Asia, particularly Borneo. They had large, dome-shaped webs.

APPEARANCE

Despite being tarantulas, they look more like wolf spiders. They are usually the size of horse-drawn carriages, but the largest ones are the size of small elephants. They have eight black eyes (white if blind).

BEHAVIOR

Very social. Hostile to most non-Acromantula organisms. Can form bonds with people important to them, like Aragog and Professor Rubeus Hagrid as Hagrid raised Aragog from birth, saved him from death and even got him a mate. This bond, however, does NOT extend towards close friends of the respected person, as Aragog did not do anything when his brood attacked Harry James Potter and Ronald Bilius Weasley, close friends of Hagrid. After the death of Aragog, however, his brood attacked Rubeus. Whenever an Acromantula died, a ritual was performed and the body was eaten.

DIET

Carnivores. They usually prey on all things smaller than them, like wolves, deer, bears, and most importantly, humans. They have a great taste for human flesh, preferring it to all other meats.

SUBSPECIES

Two subspecies. The Common Acromantula (B. Gigante aragogsi), which resides in Borneo, the Forest of Dean, and the Forbidden Forest, and the Mirkwood Acromantula (B. Gigante nigrum) which reside only in Mirkwood.

COMBAT

The spell Arania Exumai (charm to repel spiders) is effective. Keeping a pet basilisk or cockatrice helps greatly, due to them fearing both for their deadly stare, this is because spiders see in 360-degree vision. The Mirkwood Acromantula seems to be not that bad to kill, as the hobbit Bilbo Baggins manages to kill quite a lot using only mockery and the blade, Sting.

CAN THEY BE TAMED?

The Acromantula's trust can be gained by raising it from an egg. This trust does not extend to friends and family members, only to the raisers. When wild, however, there is no way to tame them.

INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER MAGICAL CREATURES

Everything in their ecosystem is usually prey, such as the Demiguise and Orang Pendek. The Harappan Unicorn, otherwise known as the Re'em, may cause some trouble, but is otherwise prey. The Occamy is prey, but they will attack young Acromantula. The Horned Serpent, on the other hand, is a mortal enemy. The Mirkwood Acromantula only has the trouble of Elves, otherwise they have no worries.