Regarding Peacock tarantula (Gooty tarantula), consider the following statements :
- I.It is an omnivorous crustacean.
- II.Its natural habitat in India is only limited to some forest areas.
- III.In its natural habitat, it is an arboreal species.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Answer: D. Statement I is wrong: the Peacock (Gooty) tarantula, Poecilotheria metallica, is a spider (an arachnid), not a crustacean, and it is a predator, not an omnivore. Statement II is correct: it is endemic to a small area of deciduous forest in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh. Statement III is correct: it lives in trees (arboreal), in holes in tall trees. So II and III are correct.
Watch for: Calling a spider a 'crustacean' is the trap; both are arthropods but in different groups.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Wrong: it is a spider, not an omnivorous crustacean.
- B. Wrong: Statement I is false.
- C. Wrong: Statement III is also correct, as the species is arboreal.
Source to check: IUCN Red List, Poecilotheria metallica (Critically Endangered).
Answer from the official UPSC key. Written and fact-checked by AI against the official key. Spotted a mistake? Report it.