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Harpactira pulchripes

Assessor: Robin Lyle

Sensitive in 2010
No
Family
Theraphosidae
Exploitation extent
Unknown
Justification and references

The golden blue leg baboon, Harpactira pulchripes, appear in the international exotic pet trade with some regularity (see websites listed below for examples).

http://www.backwaterreptiles.com/tarantulas/golden-blue-leg-baboon-tarantula-for-sale.html

http://www.kenthebugguy.com/harpactira-pulchripes-5-inch-tarantula/

https://fearnottarantulas.com/product/harpactira-pulchripes-golden-blue-leg-baboon-2-12-female/

No data is available on current rates of exploitation. However, some notes have been made available on the internet on how to breed them in captivity (see websites listed below for examples).

http://arachnoboards.com/threads/repost-of-breeding-report-on-my-usa-first-bred-harpactira-pulchripes.272999/

http://arachnoboards.com/reviews-reports/harpactira-pulchripes.204/reviews

http://arachnoboards.com/threads/harpactira-pulchripes-0-0-2.297529/

Population vulnerability
Population is not vulnerable: size is > 2500 mature individuals, AND the number of known subpopulations is > 5 AND range > 100km2
Justification and references

Current accessible (via the internet) distribution of this species is known from the original species description (Pocock, 1901). However, the geographic range is larger than what was previously known (>10 000km2) due to restricted records available on ADU SpiderMap (I. Engelbrecht, pers.comm.). 

Pocock, R.I. 1901. Descriptions of some new African Arachnida. Annals and Magazine of Natural History (7)7: 284-288. 

Targeted demographics
Mature (breeding) individuals are killed, significantly weakened or are permanently removed from the wild, OR immature individuals are targeted and this significantly impacts mature (breeding) individuals.
Justification and references

Given the nature of the exotic pet trade, it appears that live specimens are traded. 

Regeneration potential
This species has a slow population growth rate, or the growth rate varies depending on habitat, and there is a poor chance the wild populations will recover from exploitation OR a collector might feasibly harvest the entire extant population removing the chance of subsequent recruitment.
Justification and references

Mygalomorphs, in which the family Theraphosidae belongs, are exceptionally long lived for spiders with some living beyond 20 years (Dippenaar-Schoeman, 2002). This species is a long living and dispersal-limited endemic that is currently protected within a national park.

Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S. 2002. Baboon and Trapdoor Spiders of Southern Africa: An Identification Manual, Handbook N. ed. Plant Production research Institute. Agricultural Research Council, Pretoria.