Feather Leg Baboon Tarantula
The feather leg baboon tarantula, or Stromatopelma calceata, may also be known as the thick leg baboon tarantula, African red rump tarantula or stout leg baboon tarantula. Measuring four or five inches in diameter, they feed primarily on crickets and small mice. Feather leg baboon tarantulas are found most commonly in tropical, forested areas.
Feather leg baboon tarantulas are an aggressive species. They first defend themselves through the projection of urticating hairs. These barbed hairs are flung at potential attackers and cause mild to severe irritation on the skin or eyes. Urticating hair is also dangerous when it enters the nose or mouth. Like other tarantulas, feather leg baboon tarantulas are also capable of painful, venomous bites. However, their venom is rarely toxic to humans.
