Pokie vs. Tarantula — What's the Difference?

A poker machine.

Tarantulas comprise a group of large and often hairy spiders of the family Theraphosidae (technically, spiders possess setae, not true hairs.) Currently, 1,010 species have been identified. The term tarantula is usually used to describe members of the family Theraphosidae, although many other members of the same infraorder (Mygalomorphae) are commonly referred to as "tarantulas" or "false tarantulas".

(informal) Any of several species of arboreal tarantula in the genus Poecilotheria.

A very large hairy spider found chiefly in tropical and subtropical America, some kinds of which are able to catch small lizards, frogs, and birds.

A large black wolf spider of southern Europe, whose bite was formerly believed to cause tarantism.

Any of various large hairy spiders chiefly of the family Theraphosidae, capable of inflicting a bite that is painful but usually not dangerous to humans.

A large wolf spider (Lycosa tarentula) of southern Europe, once thought to cause tarantism.

Any of the large, hairy New World spiders comprising the family Theraphosidae.

(by extension) A member of certain other groups of spiders, generally characterized by large size, hairiness, or membership of infraorder Mygalomorphae to which Theraphosidae family also belongs.

(dated) A species of wolf spider, Lycosa tarantula, native to southern Europe, the mildly poisonous bite of which was once thought to cause an extreme urge to dance (tarantism).

Any one of several species of large spiders, popularly supposed to be very venomous, especially the European species (Tarantula apuliæ). The tarantulas of Texas and adjacent countries are large species of Mygale.

Large southern European spider once thought to be the cause of tarantism (uncontrollable bodily movement)

Large hairy tropical spider that can inflict painful but not highly venomous bites