The name tarantula comes from the town of Taranto in Italy and was originally used for an unrelated species of European spider. . In North America the term tarantula commonly refers to species of theraphosids found in the Americas. In Africa, theraphosids are often called baboon spiders.

Asian forms are known as earth tigers or bird spiders. Australians refer to their species as barking spiders, whistling spiders, or bird spiders. People in other parts of the world also apply the general name mygales to theraphosid spiders. But do you know how to cook a tarantula?

If you don’t know how to cook a tarantula, maybe this video will give you a guide on how to do it.

Watch this video on Tarantula being basted in batter ready for frying, as part of the menu of the annual Explorers Club dinner at the Waldorf Astoria hotel, NYC, 17 March 2007.