- Harpactira gigas
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Common baboon spider Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Arachnida Order: Araneae Suborder: Mygalomorphae Family: Theraphosidae Subfamily: Harpactirinae Genus: Harpactira Species: H. gigas Binomial name Harpactira gigas
Pocock, 1898Harpactira gigas, sometimes called the common baboon spider, is a species of spider belonging to the family Theraphosidae. It is found in South Africa from Western Cape Province north to Mpumalanga Province.
This reclusive spider, rarely encountered outside its burrow, reaches a body length of 55 mm, the female usually slightly larger than the male. The black carapace is marked with a distinctive pattern of radiating light brown lines, like the spokes of a wheel. Like all tarantulas, and almost all other spiders, this species is not considered dangerous to man.
References
- Preston-Mafham, Ken (1998). Spiders: Compact Study Guide and Identifier. Angus Books. ISBN 978-1-904594-93-2.
- Platnick, Norman I. (2008): The world spider catalog, version 8.5. American Museum of Natural History.
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