Orange Baboon/Mombasa Golden Starburst Tarantula

ANIMAL:
Orange Baboon/Mombasa Golden Starburst Tarantula 
Pterinochilus murinus

Type of Animal:
Tarantula

Habitat:
Savanna, dry grassland, mountainous areas, dry savanna scrubland, burrows, bushes, low trees

Location(s):
C, E, & southern Africa

Appearance:
Abdomen/carapace/legs same coloration, legs often have brightly colored rings, comes in 5 color forms-orange, brown, dark, red, & typical (orangeish-golden sometimes w/ green shades around legs), star-shaped carapace, short hairs, longer hairs on legs, females larger than males, males more slender/long-legged, fishbone pattern on abdomen

Food/Diet:
Insects, insect larvae, worms, smaller spiders (females eat smaller males & cannibalism not uncommon), lizards, rodents, birds, snakes

Status in Wild:
Stable

Conservation:
Breeding in zoos, arachnoculture, & pet trade

Lifestyle:
Solitary

Additional Info:

Called:
Male
Female
Young: Spiderling
Group: Solitary
 
Weight:
Male: 0.86 oz
Female: 0.96 oz
 
Gestation:
2-3 months

Life Span:
Males: 3-4 years
Females: 12-15 years

Body Length:
Male: 1.97 in
Female: 2.36 in
Young: 1 in

Males have 5.9 inch leg span, females have 4.72 inch leg span.
 
Active at night (nocturnal).
 
After laying eggs in cocoon, 50-150 spiderlings come out 2-3 months later. Some females breed twice a year.
 
Males sexually mature at 10 months, females at 1 year old.
 
Most often terrestrial but sometimes semi-arboreal, utilizing low trees.
 
Prior to molting, they seal themselves in hide/web tunnel & stop eating. Molting necessary for growth as younger spiders molt more often than older ones.
 
Webs are usually tunnel-shaped.
 
Like most tarantulas, they’re ambush predators.

Fun Fact(s):
Since they can’t eat prey whole due to lack of teeth, food predigested w/ venom from fangs, containing digestive enzyme helping break down/liquefy prey.
 
Called “Baboon Tarantulas” due to last 2 leg segments resembling baboon fingers.
 
Also called “OBT”, Orange Baboon Spider, Orange Bitey Thing (due to highly defensive temperament), Pterror, Usambara Starburst Baboon Spider/Tarantula, Golden Starburst Spider, & Mombasa Baboon Spider.
 
Often kept by experienced tarantula keepers-these highly defensive animals display/bite readily if provoked/handled. While not lethal, painful venomous bite can induce muscle pains, cramps, headaches, & nausea. They’re also quite fast. Many keepers say they can “teleport.”