The Aphonopelma tarantulas include nearly all of the North American fauna north of Mexico and a considerable part of the fauna into Central America. Only a few species are described from South America. About 90 species have been described, but many, if not most, of these are unadequately known. Most are large mygalomorphs and, like other New World tarantulas, they have urticating hairs. Most are docile in captivity. The taxonomy is poorly known and species are difficult to separate, especially those that are brown or black without other pattern. The type species is Aphonopelma seemanni (F. O. P.-Cambridge, 1897), which has striped legs.
