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Pterinochilus murinus

Assessor: Robin Lyle

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

The baboon spider, Pterinochilus murinus, appears in the international exotic pet trade regularly (see websites listed below for examples). This species is desired for its large size and colour variations. The species within the genus have notes available on the internet on how to breed them in captivity (http://arachnoboards.com/threads/pterinochilus-murinus.13557/). 

http://www.backwaterreptiles.com/tarantulas/orange-baboon-tarantula-for-sale.html

https://undergroundreptiles.com/shop/usambara-starburst-baboon-tarantula-2/

https://jamiestarantulas.com/search/?search=Pterinochilus+murinus&description=1

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

This species has a wide distribution throughout out Africa (Angola, Central, East and Southern Africa WSC, 2018)

World Spider Catalog (2018). World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern, online at http://wsc.nmbe.ch, version 19.0, accessed on 24 January 2018. doi: 10.24436/2. 

Targeted demographics
Unknown.
Justification and references

No data is available. 

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