Large and dangerous baboon spider: how to avoid an encounter

Royal baboon spider: photo

Description of the baboon spider

Name: King spider baboon
Latin: Pelinobius muticus

Class: Arachnida - Arachnida
Squad: Spiders - Araneae
Family: Spiders tarantulas - Theraphosidae

	Habitats:	east africa
	Dangerous for:	insects, bugs
	Attitude towards people:	dangerous, the bite is toxic

Pelinobius muticus, also known as the king baboon spider, is one of the largest members of the tarantula family. The body of this arthropod can reach 6-11 cm in length, while females are almost twice as large as males.

On the territory of the African continent, the baboon spider is considered the largest representative of arachnids, because the span of its limbs can reach 20-22 cm. The color of the body is mainly in light brown tones and may have a reddish or golden hue.

The body and legs of the spider are massive and covered with many short velvety hairs, while the hairs of the males are slightly longer. The last pair of limbs, the crooked one, is more developed than the others. Their length can be up to 13 cm, and diameter up to 9 mm. The last segment of this pair of legs is somewhat curved and looks a bit like a boot.

The baboon spider is one of the owners of the largest chelicerae. The length of its oral appendages can reach 2 cm in length. The only species that surpasses it in this is Theraphosa blondi.

Peculiarities of reproduction of the baboon spider

Puberty in baboon spiders comes late. Males are ready for mating after 3-4 years, and females only at 5-7 years of age. Female baboon spiders are considered among the most aggressive. Even during the mating season, they are extremely unfriendly towards males.

Baboons: a couple.

To fertilize a female, males have to wait for the moment when she is distracted. Such a “surprise effect” allows the male to very quickly pounce on the female, introduce the seed and quickly run away. But, for most males, fertilization ends very sadly, and they become a gala dinner for their lady.

30-60 days after mating, the female baboon spider prepares a cocoon and lays eggs in it. One brood may consist of 300-1000 small spiders. Cubs hatch from eggs in about 1,5-2 months. After the first molt, spiderlings leave the cocoon and go to adulthood.

It is worth noting that baboon spiders rarely breed in captivity. There are only a few references to successful cases of breeding this species. Most often, offspring outside the natural habitat are obtained from wild-caught pregnant females.

Lifestyle of a baboon spider

The life of the royal baboon spider is quite long and eventful. The life expectancy of females can reach 25-30 years. But males, unlike them, live very little and most often die 1-3 years after puberty.

home of the baboon spider

Royal baboon spider.

Kravshai spend almost all their time in their burrows and leave them only at night to hunt. Even leaving the shelter, they do not stray far from it and remain within their territory. The only exception is the mating period, when sexually mature males go in search of a partner.

The burrows of baboon spiders are very deep and can be up to 2 meters long. The vertical tunnel of the spider house ends with a horizontal living chamber. Both inside and outside, the home of the baboon spider is covered with cobwebs, thanks to which it can immediately feel the approach of a potential victim or enemy.

Diet of a baboon spider

The diet of representatives of this species includes almost any living creature that they can overcome. The menu of adult baboon spiders may contain:

Natural enemies of the baboon spider

The main enemies of the baboon spider in the wild are birds and baboons. When meeting with the enemy, representatives of this species do not try to flee. Baboon spiders are one of the most daring and aggressive species.

Sensing danger, they rise menacingly on their hind legs. To scare off their enemies, the kravshai can also make special hissing sounds with the help of chelicerae.

What is dangerous baboon spider for humans

An encounter with a baboon spider can be dangerous for humans. The toxicity of its venom is quite high and the bite of this arthropod can lead to the following consequences:

In most cases, the above symptoms disappear after a few days and without any special consequences. A bite from a baboon spider can be especially dangerous for allergy sufferers, young children, and people with weakened immune systems.

Habitat of the king baboon spider

The habitat of this species of arachnids is concentrated in East Africa. Kravshai settle mainly in arid areas, far from water bodies, so that their deep burrows are not flooded with groundwater.

Representatives of this species can certainly be found in the following countries:

• Kenya;
• Uganda;
• Tanzania.

Interesting Facts About the Royal Baboon Spider

The baboon spider is of particular interest to arachnophiles. This large tarantula not only frightens, but also surprises people with some of its features:

• before the discovery of America, the royal baboon spider held the title of the largest arachnid in the world;
• there is an opinion that the baboon spider got its name due to the similarity of their last pair of limbs with the paws of a baboon;
• protecting the cocoon with the young generation inside, females are able to do without food for up to 6-8 months.

Conclusion

Royal baboon spiders can pose a serious danger to human life and health, but they rarely approach their places of residence and prefer to remain unnoticed. But the people themselves, on the contrary, are very interested in this rare species of tarantulas, and true fans of arachnids consider it a great success to acquire such a pet.