Pterinochilus murinus

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Pterinochilus murinus
Pterinochilus.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Mygalomorphae
Family: Theraphosidae
Genus: Pterinochilus
Species:
P. murinus
Binomial name
Pterinochilus murinus
(Pocock, 1897) [1]
Synonyms [1]
  • Harpactira elevataKarsch, 1878
  • Pterinochilus mamillatusStrand, 1906
  • Pterinochilus hindeiHirst, 1907
  • Pterinochilus vosseleriStrand, 1907
  • Pterinochilus leetziSchmidt, 2002

Pterinochilus murinus or the orange baboon tarantula, [2] is a nocturnal spider in the family Theraphosidae that was first described in 1897 by Reginald Innes Pocock. [1] This species is found in Angola, as well as central and southern Africa. It is a member of the subfamily Harpactirinae, baboon spiders. [3]

Contents

A juvenile Pterinochilus murinus showing brownish orange coloration. Pterinochilus murinus sling.jpg
A juvenile Pterinochilus murinus showing brownish orange coloration.

The color varies from red, orange and brown.

Among those who keep tarantulas as pets, Pterinochilus murinus is known as "OBT", acronym which stands for "orange baboon tarantula" or "orange bitey thing", [4] and also as the "pterror", a pun on its Latin genus classification of Pterinochilus. [5] These nicknames reference a particular orange colour form that is prized in the hobby for its beauty, as well as its painful bite. [6] It is also known as the Mombasa golden starburst tarantula. [7]

This species is incredibly defensive and, as with most old world tarantulas, should not be held. The bite of this species, while not serious, is extremely painful. Moreover, the species is more than willing to inflict such a bite without first presenting the typical threat display. Caution when dealing with this species is strongly advised. [8]

Description

Female P. murinus can grow to 4–6 inches (10–15 cm) in size (measured from the tip of the front left leg, to the tip of the rear right leg), while males typically range from 3–4 inches (7.5–10 cm). The spider's abdomen, carapace, and legs have the same basic coloration, though the legs typically have brightly colored rings. The carapace has a star-shaped pattern, with a fishbone pattern present on the abdomen. The eyes are clustered together on a raised part of the carapace (in common with all tarantulas). The body is covered with short hairs, with longer hair present on the legs. Urticating hairs are not present.

There are currently 5 known colour variants of Pterinochilus murinus: and also localities of those as listed after the color form names.

Pterinochilus murinus BCF showing brownish yellow coloration. Murinus1.jpg
Pterinochilus murinus BCF showing brownish yellow coloration.

These colour variants are found in different geographical locations, and the colouration is thought to be related to the type of soil present where each variant lives.

Distribution

Pternochilus murinus is found in different parts of Africa and has also been recorded on the island of Zanzibar.

Behavior

The orange baboon tarantula is very defensive, and will bite if provoked. Consequently, it is not recommended that hobbyists keep this species without extensive prior experience handling venomous spiders.

The female excavates a burrow, or colonizes an existing burrow that has been abandoned.

As pets

These spiders are not common in pet stores but are very popular in the pet trade. These spiders build a tunnel shaped web and as adults should be provided around 2 - 3 inches of substrate. They are commonly fed crickets, cockroaches, and grasshoppers. Though they can kill small vertebrates (mice, small lizards, birds, snakes), these feeder animals are not commonly used in captive care.

These spiders can be very defensive and have very painful bites. Although their venom is not known to be lethal to humans, it is considered medically significant and thus it is advised to avoid handling this species. [9]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Brachypelma smithi</i> Species of spider

Brachypelma smithi is a species of spider in the family Theraphosidae (tarantulas) native to Mexico. It has been confused with Brachypelma hamorii; both have been called Mexican redknee tarantulas. Mexican redknee tarantulas are a popular choice as pets among tarantula keepers. Many earlier sources referring to B. smithi either relate to B. hamorii or do not distinguish between the two species. B. smithi is a terrestrial tarantula native to Pacific coast of the Mexican state of Guerrero.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harpactirinae</span> Subfamily of African tarantula spiders

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<i>Brachypelma boehmei</i> Species of spider

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tarantula</span> Family of spiders

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">King baboon spider</span> Genus of spiders

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skeleton tarantula</span> Species of spider

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<i>Brachypelma albiceps</i> Species of spider

Brachypelma albiceps is a species of spider in the tarantula family, Theraphosidae. It is known as the Mexican golden red rump tarantula or the Amula red rump tarantula. The carapace is a light golden color and the abdomen dark, covered with long red hairs. Females typically live for about 15 years. Males usually live about 5 years or up to 12 months after the last molt.

<i>Heteroscodra maculata</i> Species of tarantula

Heteroscodra maculata is an Old World species of tarantula which was first described in 1899 by Reginald Innes Pocock. This species native to West Africa and is found primarily in Togo and Ghana. This species has many common names, of which Togo starburst and ornamental baboon are most frequently encountered.

<i>Aphonopelma moderatum</i> Species of spider

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<i>Poecilotheria subfusca</i> Species of spider

Poecilotheria subfusca, or the ivory ornamental, is a spider in the tarantula family, Theraphosidae. It is endemic to Sri Lanka. As of February 2019, the World Spider Catalog regarded Poecilotheria bara as a synonym. Other sources, particularly in the pet trade, have treated highland and lowland forms as distinct species, with the lowland forms being P. bara.

<i>Tapinauchenius plumipes</i> Species of spider

Tapinauchenius plumipes, the orange tree spider, is a tarantula endemic to French Guiana. It was first described by Ludovico Di Caporiacco in 1954. Its previous name, Tapinauchenius gigas was based on the Latin word for giant, being gigas. This tarantula is often kept as a pet and commonly bred.

<i>Idiothele mira</i> Species of spider

Idiothele mira, also known as the blue-foot baboon or the trap-door tarantula, is a species of tarantula endemic to South Africa and is popularized by hobbyists for the striking blue coloration on the ventral side of the tarsi and metatarsi on each leg. Furthermore, the species is well known for belonging to one of two described genera of theraphosids that build a trapdoor, the other being Typhochlaena.

<i>Chilobrachys fimbriatus</i> Species of spider endemic to India

Chilobrachys fimbriatus, commonly known as the Indian Violet Earth Tiger Tarantula usually shortened to Indian Violet Tarantula, is a species of spider of the genus Chilobrachys. It is endemic to India, and was first described by Reginald Innes Pocock in 1899.

<i>Ceratogyrus marshalli</i> Species of tarantula

Ceratogyrus marshalli, also known as Straight Horned Baboon or Great Horned Baboon Tarantula, is a species of tarantula from the genus Ceratogyrus. It is found in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. It was first described by Reginald Innes Pocock in 1897, as half of the Ceratogyrus genus, they own a impressive horn in the carapace.

Ornithoctonus aureotibialis is a tarantula species in the Ornithoctonus genus, it was first described by Volker von Wirth and Boris F. Striffler in 2005. It is named for the Latin, aureus being "golden" and tibia. Because of the gold or orange coloured line of hair in the tibiae of the legs in subadult and adult females and subadult males. Its common name is Thailand Golden Fringe, as the name may suggest it is found in Thailand, Myanmar and Malaysia. It is sometimes kept as a pet, and are captive bred.

<i>Monocentropus balfouri</i> Species of tarantula

Monocentropus balfouri is a tarantula in the Monocentropus genus, it was first described by Reginald Innes Pocock in 1897. This tarantula is also called Socotra Island blue baboon tarantula, usually shortened to blue baboon tarantula. This spider is named after its collector Isaac Bayley Balfour. It is found in Socotra Island, hence the common name. This tarantula is terrestrial and an opportunistic burrower. Like many tarantulas, M. balfouri can be kept as a pet, although it is not a beginner species.

Pterinochilus lugardi also known Grey starburst baboon, Dodoma baboon, Fort hall baboon or Tanzanian blonde baboon tarantula is a tarantula first described by Reginald Innes Pocock in 1900. They are found all over Southern and Eastern Africa, of course excluding Madagascar.

<i>Lyrognathus giannisposatoi</i> Species of tarantula

Lyrognathus giannisposatoi sometimes called the Sumatran stout leg tarantula is a tarantula which can be found in Mesuji Regency, Sumatra, Indonesia. It was first described by Steven C. Nunn, Rick C. West in 2013, and is named after Gianni Sposato, who helped with Selenocosmia material, and was of great help to the authors.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Taxon details Pterinochilus murinus (Pocock, 1897)". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. Retrieved 2018-08-06.
  2. "Orange Baboon Tarantula (Pterinochilus murinus): Facts, Identification &Pictures". Spider Identifications. 2019-05-21. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  3. "Pterinochilus murinus". Theraphosidae. 2015-08-23. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  4. "Orange Baboon Tarantula - The Orange Bitey Thing -". ReptileRange.com.
  5. "Orange Baboon Tarantula: Facts, Identification and Pictures". Spider Identifications. May 21, 2019.
  6. Pterinochilus murinus bite report. (OBT, Orange Baboon Tarantula, Orange Bitey Thing) , retrieved 2024-03-26
  7. "Mombasa Golden Starburst Baboon Tarantula: Everything y…". Goodreads.
  8. Ian (2018-06-25). "Orange Baboon Tarantula (Pterinochilus Murinus)". Tarantula Friendly. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  9. Ahmed, N.; Pinkham, M.; Warrell, D.A. (2009-09-23). "Symptom in search of a toxin: muscle spasms following bites by Old World tarantula spiders (Lampropelma nigerrimum, Pterinochilus murinus, Poecilotheria regalis) with review". QJM. 102 (12): 851–857. doi: 10.1093/qjmed/hcp128 . ISSN   1460-2725. PMID   19776152.