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No ordinary baboon


No ordinary baboon
Photo Information
Copyright: Gerhard Theron (gerhardt) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1936 W: 244 N: 4106] (11620)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-05-15
Categories: Spiders
Camera: Minolta Dimage Z1
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/400 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Araneae (Spiders) [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2004-07-25 13:59
Viewed: 23516
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Phylum: Arthropoda, subphylum Chelicerata, class Arachnida, order Araneae, suborder Mygalomorpha, Family: Theraphosidae

Baboon Spider

Most theraphosids are difficult to identify due to the lack of distinctive external characters. I am not such an expert to give you the name of this particular species. In South Africa this family is represented by five genera including thirty-four described species. Maybe anyone else can help?
African species are called baboon spiders due to their hairy appearance and the black scopulae pads on its "feet" resembling the pads on baboon feet. These spiders are often incorrectly referred to as Tarantulas. They are not dangerous to man although they can inflict a painful bite. They are all mildly venomous, the venom being neurotoxin. All South African species are terrestrial occurring in underground burrows or scrapes under rocks. The scrape is lined with thick silk, which is attached to the rock and keeps out troublesome insects such as ants. At night, the burrow dwellers can be seen with their front legs and eyes showing at the entrance of their burrows as they wait for unsuspecting prey. Females usually stay close to their retreat while the males, once mature, roam freely looking for a mate. For this reason, most of the specimens photographed are males.

Theraphosids are large, bulky and hairy with a body length of 13-90 mm long with the average spider measuring 20-50 mm.

Due to the slow maturity rate and high mortality of immatures, the collecting of baboon spiders is strongly discouraged, as this has led to the decimation of populations. They do not make ideal pets as they are inactive during the day and move around very little even at night. Once the novelty of scaring ones friends has worn off, most spiders in captivity eventually die of dehydration, stress from handling and sheer neglect.
carper, Callie, Robbrown, mogens-j, TAZ, Eagle78, japie, zto, Esox, RAP, Jeppe, danbachmann, ellis49, thiagobr, Luc has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To danbachmann: 10 Legs, 2 Armsgerhardt 1 08-02 14:53
To mogens-j: Size of spidergerhardt 1 07-25 18:10
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Cat Silver Star Critiquer [C: 17 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2004-07-25 14:28]

Excellent shot Gerhard! I myself am a bit of an arachnaphobe, but, you have done a wonderful job here. Your note goes to show that once again we should leave natures creatures in nature and not try to turn them into pets!

  • Great 
  • Callie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1101 W: 95 N: 2610] (7555)
  • [2004-07-25 14:54]

OK
So you jumped the que here and got yours in first, it is a lovely specimen. I will stay with English, as most understandit and not our Afrikaans. Nice note on our friends too. Good to show then our spider on serroids!

Very nice hairy spider, me I like them ( my job to save them in our house from being stamped on).Lots of good detail and colour. next time try sacrificing some of the shutter speed to give you a better Depth of field, these digital camera seem to have very good image stabilisation software built in, look forward to the next monster in the bath ;0)))#

Welcome on TN Gerhard. Great first post. I am fancy about spiders too - very interesting creatures. The size you mention of this one (up to 9o mm) soes that include legs?

I like the picture, the pose, the colours and the details. Great job and a very informative note. Thank you very much for sharing.

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2004-07-25 18:44]

Great stuff! Very good detail and depth of focus. I reckon this beast has been through the wars at some point. By the looks of it, especially comparing the forelegs, this por thing has lost and regenerated a leg at some point.

Great shot Gerhard. Amazing detail and very informative note. I nearly stepped on one of these guys while I was walking along a road in Namibia, and not paying enough attention. I tell no lie, it was as close as I'd ever come to soiling myself! :0

Very good photo and note Gerhard.
I hope I never meeet this animal. You gife us a good composition, good sharp, very good work.

points later

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2004-07-26 13:06]

Good picture and note ! I am afraid by this spider...

hmmm...from which one you toke it Gerhard?? Aracnophobia1 or 2?? ;))
Wow...amazing specimen! Tanks for your work on both image and note :)

  • Great 
  • japie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
  • [2004-07-26 16:01]

These are the things horror movies are maid of. I do not know much about spiders and your note made me say "Bliksem!!" Your DOF and definition is good.

  • Great 
  • Esox Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 239 W: 20 N: 344] (972)
  • [2004-07-27 13:33]

A good composition, with much details.
Efficient DOF too.
I really like the note.
Bravo.

Very impressive ! better to see it here on TN than in front of me !

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2004-07-31 7:00]

Maravillosa imagen Gerhard.
La atinada iluminacion produce un efecto de sombras muy bonito.
Excelente encuadre y presentacion... los colores tan parecido entre la araņa y el suelo brindan un resultado perfecto.
Bravo!

Wonderful image Gerhard.
The accurate illumination produces a very pretty effect of shades.
Excellent frame and presentation... the colors so similar between the spider and the ground offer a perfect result.
Bravo!

  • Great 
  • Jeppe Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 36 W: 0 N: 33] (193)
  • [2004-08-01 4:00]

wow - I must show this one to my family - will surely give some screaming ;-) - Great Macro - and too bad people can't keep there hands to themself - nature preservation a must.
thanks Gerhard.

This is a great image here! The details and exposure are excellent. One thing confuses me though... am I counting 10 legs? Or 8 legs and 2 arms?
Good note and textured background too.

This is great.
Excellent shot of the hairy spider.
And a excellent note too.
Well done

Beautiful shot. Details are there.
Myself I know very well this type of spider I met many of them in the nature even in our kitchen one day.
We were living in MALAWI for 8 years in the deep bush.
So, congratulations for this picture.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1835 W: 301 N: 4287] (14767)
  • [2006-02-13 21:50]

I took a look at your first posts.
This one was very good seen with my eyes of today.
Thank you my friend Gerhard.

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