Tarantulas

Tarantulas are a species of large, hairy spider known to both the Muggle and wizarding worlds. In their mundane form, they are simply non-magical creatures. However, the term is recognized within magical contexts, and parts of the tarantula may be used in potion-making. They are distinct from other giant and magical arachnids, such as the Acromantula.

Tarantulas are mentioned infrequently in the original novels, often in non-magical or indirect contexts.

• In 1991, Harry Potter saw a “large, poisonous tarantula” at a Muggle zoo during an outing for Dudley Dursley's birthday. This was a mundane, non-magical animal.
• During the 1996-1997 school year, Harry Potter served detention with Professor Snape by sorting through old punishment records. He found a record for a Hufflepuff student named Eleonora Grimstone, who had been punished for cursing a portrait. The curse caused the portrait's subject to break out in boils and scream whenever the word “tarantula” was spoken.

It is important to distinguish tarantulas from other large spiders that appear in the wizarding world, which are often magical in nature.

• Acromantula: This is a monstrous, sentient species of giant spider capable of human speech. Aragog and his colony in the Forbidden Forest are the most notable examples. Tarantulas are non-sentient beasts and are significantly smaller.
• Spiders for Curse Demonstration: In 1994, Barty Crouch Jr., disguised as Professor Moody, used three large spiders to demonstrate the Unforgivable Curses in his Defence Against the Dark Arts class. The specific species of these spiders is not identified.
• Ron Weasley's Boggart: Ron Weasley's greatest fear takes the form of a giant spider. While it is described with features common to tarantulas, such as long, hairy legs, its species is never explicitly named.

• Potion Ingredient: Tarantula juice is a known potion ingredient. (Wonderbook: Book of Potions)

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, a tarantula is visible inside a glass tank in the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom during Professor Lupin's first lesson with the Boggart. (film)