Bites from this spider may be medically significant and may require medical intervention!

Defining Characteristics:

• One of the most popular old world species due to coloration, webbing and feeding response.
• One of the most widespread tarantula species in Africa, with several color variations depending on locality.
• A notoriously defensive fossorial species with a nasty bite, this species is not recommended for new keepers.

Name: Pterinochilus murinus has several common names, the most popular being the Orange Baboon Tarantula, Usambara Starburst Baboon, or affectionately "Orange Bitey Thing." Its scientific name has both Greek and Latin roots meaning wing/feather, lip/gill and mouse colored, the latter probably referring to the localities which boast brown coloration rather than orange.

Enclosure Size & Setup: Pterinochilus murinus is fossorial, meaning a taller enclosure filled mostly with substrate is ideal. The surface area of the enclosure should not be less than three times the diagonal leg span of the tarantula in any direction. This species does have semi arboreal tendencies, so providing them with a bit of height above the surface with plenty of web anchor points would not be amiss. Slings should have at least 2-3 inches of substrate, adults 5+ inches. Arachnid BioBedding is our top pick for substrate, as it was developed specifically with the needs of tarantulas in mind! ABG Mix, coco cradle, or Dig-It are good substrate options, as well.

Temperature (°F): Natural range of Pterinochilus murinus varies from 65°-90°, best kept mid to high 70° range, but temperatures have more wiggle room than other species.

Humidity: 60%-65% —Pterinochilus murinus slings should be kept on lightly moist substrate, adults bone dry with a water dish. If you find that your adult likes to web over the water dish consistently, you can mist their web canopies once every week or so and they will drink from the droplets that form.

Size: Pterinochilus murinus are 1/2 to 1 inch at time of sale with adults reaching up to around 5 inches.

Age: Pterinochilus murinus are at least 3-4 months at time of sale, with males living 3-4 years of age and females boasting a significantly longer lifespan of 12-15 years.

Feeding: At time of sale our Pterinochilus murinus are eating hydei fruit flies two times a week, prey should size up with your tarantula, with the prey being no bigger than about the size of your tarantula's carapace. As they age you can feed less frequently, with adults eating every 10-14 days. Do not feed within a week of your tarantula molting to prevent injury to the tarantula.

Sexing: Due to age, Pterinochilus murinus spiderlings sold by Josh's Frogs are sold as unsexed. Specimens of 2.5"-3" diagonal leg span will be able to start being accurately sexed. The most accurate method is always molt sexing, the molt of a female tarantula of appropriate size will have spermatheca and a uterus externus in between the top two sets of book lungs that will appear as a "flap" that will catch and open if a pin is gently run down this section of the old exoskeleton. Males will have a much more plain slit that will not budge with attempts to manipulate it.

Coloration: Pterinochilus murinus slings are gray with a mustard colored abdomen, growing to be orange with black starburst on carapace and pattern on the abdomen. 

Social Behavior: Some experienced hobbyists have reported success with communal setups, but it is very heavily recommended to keep this species solitary.

Breeding: Spiders housed for breeding purposes should remain supervised when together and should only be attempted well fed. Mature males can be put in the enclosure of a mature female for courtship/mating. Remove male promptly after insertion is observed, or immediately if female is aggressive rather than receptive.

Natural Range: Much of Africa, including (but probably not limited to): Angola, Burundi, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Links of Interest:

• Arachnoboards: a community of spider enthusiasts that will be able to or have already answered almost any question you can think of with regards to tarantulas.