| Burst horned baboon | |
|---|---|
| exuvia of an adult female | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Suborder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Theraphosidae |
| Genus: | Ceratogyrus |
| Species: | C. bechuanicus |
| Binomial name | |
| Ceratogyrus bechuanicus Purcell, 1902 |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Ceratogyrus darlingii |
|
Ceratogyrus darlingi (commonly called Burst Horned Baboon or Straight Horn Tarantula) is a theraphosid spider from southern Africa, mainly Botswana. They reach a body length of about 5 cm and are grey-brown to black. The peltidium features a black foveal horn.[1]
C. darlingi, often still known under its obsolete name C. bechuanicus, is the most common Ceratogyrus species held in captivity, although it is rather aggressive and fast. When kept in captivity, it requires dry substrate, such as peat, on which to live. This allows it to burrow, and also will allow it to avoid fungal infection. As this species is from a very arid habitat, it cannot cope with too much moisture.