Hercules Baboon (Hysterocrates Hercules)

The Hercules Baboon belonging to the family of tarantulas is an amazingly large-sized spider indigenous to different parts of Africa particularly Nigeria. It is said to be the rarest of its kind and has not been observed in the wild for quite a long span of time, after 1900.

Scientific Classification

• Family: Theraphosidae
• Genus: Hysterocrates
• Scientific name: Hysterocrates hercules

Physical Description & Identification

Because of its rarity very little information is available regarding its traits, appearance and size of eggs as well as the spiderlings.

Adults

Size: They are enormously big in size.

Color: Not much information is available regarding the color of these siders because of their unavailability since a long time, though their body may be brown or black.

Other Characteristic Features: Their carapace is larger than most other species of African spider, while their leg span is 8 inches long.

The Web

As people have not got to see it for over 100 years, details about how it spins its webs or whether it creates web or not are unknown.

Does the Hercules Baboon Bite and is it Poisonous

From the details available, it was said to be likely to bite when provoked which is not painful though, resulting in a little discomfort. However, its venom is not that strong and chances of harm to human are less unless the infection spreads to the body.

Quick Facts

Lifespan	Not known
Distribution	Parts of Africa particularly Nigeria
Habitat	In forests
Common Predators	Unknown
Diet	Insects, bugs, other smaller spider species

Did You Know

• The second half stems from the fact that its legs have a striking similarity with the fingers of a baboon.
• A single species of this spider is known to dwell in London’s National History Museum for many years.
• Though it was said to surpass the Goliath bird-eating spider in size, these speculations were put to rest when the National History Museum conducted a research in which the Hercules baboon was measured one-third of the latter’s size.
• Pet stores claim to be selling this spider, but it may not be true, and the ones being advertised could actually be the King Baboon, their close cousins.
• They are known to have an angry demeanor, thus not being a proper pet choice for first-timers.

Image Credits: I.ytimg.com, Alex21c.com