Pterinochilus murinus (Pocock, 1897)

Entymology

Pterinochilus (greek), wing, feather + lip, gill
murinus (latin), mouse colored

Introduction

The genus Pterinochilus ranges from east Africa down to South Africa. They are usually very aggressive spiders and beginners should wait to keep them until they get more practice in how tarantulas react before obtaining one. Pterinochilus sp. ‘Usambara’ – a carrot orange species was considered to be a undescribed species are now a color variation of murinus. These species live in quite different habitat and separated but are considered one and the same species.

In the terrarium

A dry living species that doesnt dig burrows like many theraphosids do, they settle down under stones or other objects in the wild. They spin lots of webbings, both under the stone (or whatever they choosen to live under) and outside. They behave the same in the cage, just put a piece of cork bark (or a dry root) for them to reside underneath. A standard cage measuring 30x30x30cm are perfect for murinus. A waterbowl (as usual no cotton!) and approx 10-15cm of dry peat as substrate.

Breeding

I have tried to breed this species, but unfortunatly I sold my female before she produced a eggsack so I dont know if the mating was successful or not. The mating was calm, the female wasnt aggressive towards the male at all. Appearently this species dont carry the eggsack in the pedipalps that most species do, the female attaches the hammock shaped eggsack inside the burrow. The spiderlings are around 100 in one eggsack and reach maturity in 0,9-1,5 years. Females somewhat longer time.

Food

Crickets, zoophobas – most insects are eaten by murinus. If they are kept to cold they usually stop feeding (and that goes for many species of tarantulas).

Handling

Generally considered very aggressive spiders that rear up on the hind legs showing the fangs and loudly stridulates. And this position are kept for a long time after you leave the room. Do not handle this species with your hands – it will bite. And this species are one of the species I got most bite reports from.

Breeding

I have tried to breed this species, but unfortunatly I sold my female before she produced a eggsack so I dont know if the mating was successful or not. The mating was calm, the female wasnt aggressive towards the male at all. Appearently this species dont carry the eggsack in the pedipalps that most species do, the female attaches the hammock shaped eggsack inside the burrow. The spiderlings are around 100 in one eggsack and reach maturity in 0,9-1,5 years. Females somewhat longer time.

Food

Crickets, zoophobas – most insects are eaten by murinus. If they are kept to cold they usually stop feeding (and that goes for many species of tarantulas).

Handling

Generally considered a very aggressive spiders that rear up on the hind legs showing the fangs and loudly stridulates at the slightest disturbance. And this position are kept for a long time after you leave the room. Do not handle this species with your hands – it will probably bite. This species are one of the species I got most bite reports from.