Pterinochilus murinus DCF Kigoma
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Description
Pterinochilus murinus DCF Kigoma - Jet-Black and Volcanic-Grey Baboon Tarantula with a Golden Starburst and Heavy Web Fortresses
Pterinochilus murinus DCF Kigoma (Dark Colour Form) is a rare locality morph of the Starburst Baboon tarantula from the shores of Lake Tanganyika, combining a jet-black exoskeleton and volcanic-grey setation with a deep golden starburst pattern on the carapace. Unlike the bright orange OBT form from the Usambara Mountains, the Kigoma population displays the species' ancestral "mouse-grey" phenotype and transforms its enclosure into a snow-white silk fortress complete with tunnels and trip-lines.
- Dark DCF Kigoma phenotype and white silk fortresses: High contrast between the jet-black underside, charcoal-graphite setae, and golden starburst carapace pattern in a spider that constructs dense, snow-white funnel retreats.
- Fierce appetite and rapid adult colouration: A lightning-fast ambush predator that feeds eagerly and develops its high-contrast adult colouration as early as the 5th-6th instar (L5-L6).
- Hardiness in dry savanna conditions: Adaptation to the dry miombo woodlands of western Tanzania allows juveniles and adults to thrive on dry substrate at 40-65% humidity.
- Locality-pure lineage without CITES restrictions: Specimens from a pure Kigoma population - 100% legal to keep, exempt from CITES registration, and removed from the Polish dangerous animals list.
| Scientific name and morph | Pterinochilus murinus DCF Kigoma (Dark Colour Form - Kigoma Starburst Baboon / Dark OBT) |
| Family and subfamily | Theraphosidae, Harpactirinae (African baboon spiders - baboon spiders) |
| Origin and biotope | Western Tanzania (Kigoma, Lake Tanganyika shore, East African Rift) - miombo woodlands, thornbush scrub, rocky kopjes |
| Lifestyle | Terrestrial-fossorial (opportunistic burrower) with semi-arboreal tendencies and heavy webbing |
| Size and lifespan | Female: 5-6 cm DC (13-15 cm DLS), lives 8-15 years (matures in 15-18 months / L11-L12) - male: 4-5 cm DC (8-12 cm DLS), lives 2-4 years (matures in 8-18 months / L8-L9) |
| Temperature and humidity | 25-28°C (77-82°F) daytime (tolerance 22-30°C (72-86°F)), 20-24°C (68-75°F) nighttime - humidity 40-65% with cross-ventilation |
| Enclosure and substrate | L1-L4: sling vial or 100-250 ml cup, juveniles: Braplast tub, adults: 30x30x30 cm (or 35x25x20 cm) with 10-15 cm of substrate |
| Venom and legal status | Potent venom, no urticating hairs (use 25-30 cm tweezers) - 100% legal (exempt from CITES and dangerous species registration) |
Choosing a variant and first steps with your spider
By selecting a variant from the drop-down menu, you can match the developmental stage to your keeping preferences: L1-L4 spiderlings (around 1 cm DLS at L1) feature a dark prosoma and a lighter abdomen, whereas from L5-L6 onwards juveniles and adults display the full high-contrast DCF Kigoma colouration:
- Step 1: Unpacking - Open the ventilated sling vial or transport cup over a wide flat surface (using the catch cup method) while working with 25-30 cm tweezers.
- Step 2: Rest period (24h) - Place the container in a quiet spot at 20-22°C (68-72°F) without a heating mat and give the spider 24 hours undisturbed.
- Step 3: Hydration - For L1-L3 spiderlings, moisten one corner of the substrate and place a water droplet on the webbing (1-2 times a week), while for older stages provide a shallow water dish and keep 50-75% of the substrate bone-dry.
- Step 4: First meal - Feed after 24-48 hours: offer L1-L3 spiderlings a pinhead Red Runner roach (2-3 mm), L4-L8 juveniles a 4-8 mm feeder insect, and adults prey measuring 50-100% of the abdomen length.
What enclosure and substrate should you choose for Pterinochilus murinus DCF Kigoma?
An adult Pterinochilus murinus DCF Kigoma requires a 30x30x30 cm (or 35x25x20 cm) enclosure with cross-ventilation, a 10-15 cm substrate layer, daytime temperatures of 25-28°C (77-82°F), and 40-65% humidity. Keep L1-L4 spiderlings in ventilated sling vials and juveniles in Braplast tubs.
Research by Shahin Uddin and Kevin Arbuckle (2025) demonstrated that providing at least 8-15 cm of substrate for burrowing is statistically the strongest factor reducing panic bolting, threat display postures, and biting. Use coco fibre or peat mixed with sand and clay along with a slanted piece of cork bark as an anchor point for webbing, and place sphagnum moss in the moist corner for spiderlings.
What to feed Pterinochilus murinus and how to recognize an upcoming molt?
The staple diet of Pterinochilus murinus consists of live feeder insects measuring 50-100% of the spider's abdomen length excluding legs. Feed L1-L3 spiderlings every 3-4 days with pinhead Red Runner roaches, juveniles every 5-7 days, and adult females every 7-14 days with Dubia roaches, banana crickets, or locusts.
The spider detects prey vibrations via silk trip-lines radiating from the funnel entrance. Before a molt, the abdomen darkens and the spider seals its burrow entrance with silk - remove any uneaten prey using 25-30 cm tweezers after 24 hours, and wait 5-7 days for spiderlings or 10-14 days for adults after molting before feeding again.
How does Pterinochilus murinus DCF Kigoma differ from the classic OBT form?
The Pterinochilus murinus DCF Kigoma morph from western Tanzania stands out with its jet-black exoskeleton, velvety ash-graphite and olive-brown setation, and a deep golden starburst pattern on the carapace. It represents the dark opposite of the fiery orange OCF form from the Usambara Mountains while sharing identical biology and adult size.
Alongside the OCF and RCF forms (Usambara, formerly UMV), the sandy TCF with a dark ocular mask (Mombasa, Mozambique), the chocolate BCF (Tete, South Africa), and the silvery SCF (Kalahari), the DCF group comprises populations from Botswana/Zimbabwe (B/Z), Kenya, Mikumi, and the Kigoma lineage established in the hobby between 2016-2019. Its carapace features a champagne-gold starburst, the abdomen bears a fishbone / herringbone chevron pattern, and the leg joints with iridescent blue-green scopulae are bordered by creamy yellow rings. To preserve locality pure bloodlines, it is never crossbred with other localities and must be housed strictly individually, while other fast Old World tarantulas in our collection include Phormingochilus hatihati.
Common mistakes in keeping and how to avoid them
- Too shallow substrate: Lack of a burrow increases defensive stress - provide 10-15 cm of substrate for adults (at least half the vial height for spiderlings) and a slanted piece of cork bark.
- Waterlogged substrate and poor ventilation: In Kigoma, the dry season lasts from May to October (wet season November-April) - keep 50-75% of the surface dry, moisten one corner every 2-3 weeks, and ensure cross-ventilation.
- Heating mat under the enclosure: The spider burrows downward to escape heat - mount heating elements strictly on a side or back wall.
- Maintenance without long tweezers: Never handle this species with bare hands, always use 25-30 cm tweezers, and remove uneaten feeder insects after 24 hours.
Taxonomic revisions (Gallon, 2002, 2008), the murinus name paradox, stridulation, and breeding
The species was described by R. I. Pocock (1897, genome size 4.7 Gb). Revisions by R. C. Gallon (2002, 2008 - recognizing 9 valid species: including P. alluaudi, P. andrewsmithi, P. chordatus, P. lapalala, P. cryptus, P. raygabrieli, and P. lugardi) synonymized several taxa under P. murinus: P. mamillatus (Strand, 1906), P. hindei (Hirst, 1907), P. vosseleri (Strand, 1907), P. leetzi (Schmidt, 2002), P. crassispina (Purcell, 1902), and Harpactirella leleupi (Benoit, 1965), while rejecting Harpactira elevata (Karsch, 1878) as a nomen oblitum. The diagnostic genus trait is a patch of thorn-like setae on the prolateral surface of the maxillae. The Latin epithet murinus means "mouse-grey" - unlike the bright orange OBT (Orange Baboon Tarantula / Orange Bitey Thing, "Pterror"), DCF Kigoma restores the original dark phenotype. When disturbed, the spider stridulates (producing 95-415 ms pulses up to 21 kHz). Adult males live 6-18 months after their ultimate molt (bearing palpal bulbs and tibial apophyses on leg pair I), while the female weaves a fixed eggsac (60-200 eggs, averaging 120-170) into her retreat and can produce 2-3 clutches (double/triple clutch) from a single mating.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is keeping Pterinochilus murinus DCF Kigoma legal in Poland and does it require CITES permits?
Yes, it is 100% legal. The species is not listed on CITES and requires no registration, and by the Regulation of the Minister of the Environment of 3 August 2011 (Journal of Laws 2011, No. 173, item 1037) it was officially removed from the Polish dangerous animals list (no regional environmental permits required).
How potent is Pterinochilus murinus venom and how do you service the enclosure safely?
The venom is potent (containing ICK peptides / murinotoxins) - a bite is painful and may cause localized muscle cramps, though it is not life-threatening to a healthy adult. Using 25-30 cm tweezers and never handling the spider ensures 100% safety.
Why did my tarantula seal its burrow entrance with webbing and when does it get adult colours?
Webbing over the tunnel entrance with dense white silk signals an upcoming molt - never tear open the webbing or leave live prey inside. The high-contrast jet-black and charcoal DCF Kigoma colouration with the golden starburst carapace develops around the 5th-6th instar (L5-L6).
Ready to observe Africa's volcanic-black legend and its snow-white silk fortresses? Select your preferred developmental stage, add Pterinochilus murinus DCF Kigoma to your cart, and enjoy fascinating observations of this remarkable predator in your terrarium!
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