Tarantox

Tarantox is one of the bosses in Super Mario Galaxy, being a giant spider monster that is seemingly related to the Spoings and Spranglers. It is found wrapped up in a web inside the Phantom Boss Spider Zone in the Space Junk Galaxy. Its name is a portmanteau of "tarantula" and "toxic". The music while fighting Tarantox is the same as while fighting Dino Piranha and Fiery Dino Piranha.

Mario reaches it by using a Sling Pod to break the shell off of the Phantom Boss Spider Zone, revealing its web and the spider in a cocoon. Mario then must use another Sling Pod to tear the web and free the spider, then battle it.

In the Super Mario Mash-up in Minecraft, Cave Spiders are replaced by Tarantox. Spider eyes are replaced by Tarantox's eyes.

Appearance
Tarantox has three wide oval eyes, wings, and a nozzle-like mouth. Its feet are similar to suction cups. It has horizontal stripes on its body, two small pairs of insect-like wings, four glowing growths on its sides, and one giant one on its behind. It attacks Mario by flailing its legs around and spitting acid from its smaller buttons. It also has three large growths on its underside, which Mario must pop.

Battle
This battle makes extensive use of Sling Pods. To damage Tarantox, Mario must use Sling Pods and throw himself at the largest glowing growth (the one on Tarantox's rear) to pop it. Mario can also sling himself either at Tarantox's eyes or at the bumps on its side, which will cause the boss to cover its face in pain, rendering it stunned for a very short period of time. Once Mario hits the growth on Tarantox's rear, the spider will fall upside down, revealing three more red bumps on its underbelly. If Mario pops all of them, the spider regains its feet and attacks faster. During the second round, the side glowing buttons start blasting toxic liquid so it is harder for Mario to hit Tarantox. If Mario repeats the procedure one more time, Tarantox is defeated, falls through its web, and goes flying into space, revealing a Power Star which Mario has to use a Sling Pod to collect.

Super Mario Galaxy trading card description
''A giant, triple-eyed space spider in the Space Junk Galaxy, Tarantox is a formidable boss Mario must battle for a Power Star. Reach the acid-drooling arachnid by sling-podding into its web. Catapult Mario into Tarantox's weak spot (the orbs on its back) to flip the spider on its back. Continue to hit the ones on its belly to hurt it. Do this twice to win the Power Star!''

Names in other languages
Königsspinne Tarantorex