Buddha Bugs
Hysterocrates laticeps (Nigerian rust leg tarantula) 0.75"
Hysterocrates laticeps (Nigerian rust leg tarantula) 0.75"
Before ordering: Unless marked “exact animal pictured,” photos are representative; refer to the product title or selected option for the size or sex offered. Shipped live-animal orders require a $50 cart subtotal and are normally held for pickup at an authorized FedEx Ship Center. Please review our Shipping & Live Arrival and Refund & Cancellation policies before purchasing.
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Species Overview
Hysterocrates laticeps, commonly known as the Nigerian rust leg baboon tarantula, is a large terrestrial burrowing tarantula native to southern Nigeria and Cameroon, with Benin-origin imports and citizen-science observations suggesting that its range may extend farther west. Mature specimens have a broad, robust build and display pronounced molt-dependent coloration. Freshly molted individuals are typically darkest, with an olive-brown to dark bronze carapace, nearly black femora, gray-brown distal leg segments, and a velvety black abdomen. As the exoskeleton ages, rusty reddish-brown coloration becomes increasingly apparent across the legs and body.
In captivity, H. laticeps readily excavates extensive tunnel systems, relocates large amounts of substrate, and reinforces its retreat with silk. Individuals often remain concealed during the day but may wait near the burrow entrance or emerge after dark to hunt. This species has a strong feeding response and grows relatively quickly under favorable conditions. It lacks urticating hairs and relies on speed, retreat, and defensive displays when disturbed. Like H. gigas, its identity has been obscured by inconsistent labeling within the hobby. Animals apparently belonging to this species have circulated as Hysterocrates sp. ‘Benin,’ Hysterocrates sp. ‘Niger Delta,’ and Hysterocrates hercules.
- Common Name: Nigerian rust leg baboon tarantula
- Native Range: Southern Nigeria and Cameroon; likely also Benin, although the exact distribution remains poorly resolved
- Life Habit: Terrestrial burrower
- Adult Size: 6.5–8 inches in diagonal leg span
- Lifespan: Males 3–4 years; females 10–15+ years under optimal conditions
- Temperament: Fast and defensive
- Care Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Hysterocrates laticeps Care
Hysterocrates laticeps should be maintained as a dedicated terrestrial burrower. Deep, compactable substrate and a stable moisture gradient are more important than a large amount of open surface area. Because this species can move quickly and may respond defensively when its retreat is disturbed, enclosure maintenance and rehousing should be approached carefully.
- Enclosure: 1 oz condiment cup or similar for spiderlings, upgraded as needed with growth; 14” x 10” x 8” or larger for adults
- Substrate: Coconut fiber, peat moss, topsoil, or similar substrates with sufficient depth to allow excavation. Cork bark or similar enclosure décor can be partially buried to provide a starting point for excavation.
- Temperature: 72–82°F
- Humidity: Moderate ambient humidity is generally sufficient. Approximately 50% of the substrate should retain moisture to provide a humidity gradient while allowing the remaining substrate to stay drier. Avoid consistently wet or waterlogged conditions.
- Diet: Fruit flies, crickets, cockroaches, and other appropriately sized feeder insects
- Feeding: Spiderlings can be offered appropriately sized prey once or twice weekly. Juveniles and adults are typically fed every 7–14 days, with feeding frequency adjusted based on prey size, growth rate, and the condition of the individual animal.
- Water: Moisten part of the substrate as needed and provide water droplets on enclosure surfaces and webbing for spiderlings; larger specimens should have access to a water dish.
- Routine Maintenance: Remove uneaten prey, ensure constant access to water, and spot-clean when necessary.
Natural History
Hysterocrates laticeps was described by Reginald Innes Pocock in 1897 from a male and a tentatively associated female collected at Old Calabar in present-day southeastern Nigeria. The original description separated it from similar species including H. gigas and H. crassipes through features that included its broad cephalic region, carapace proportions, comparatively slender posterior legs, and the reproductive morphology of the male. The broad anterior portion of the carapace is also reflected in the name laticeps, meaning broad-headed.
The recognized occurrence of Hysterocrates laticeps in Cameroon results from Hysterocrates camerunensis, a provisional name based on a male from Cameroon, having been placed in synonymy with H. laticeps. Benin-origin imports and observations identified as H. laticeps suggest a substantially broader West African range, but the identity of those western populations has not yet been confirmed through a modern revision.
The identity of H. laticeps has been further obscured by inconsistent labeling within the hobby. Animals apparently belonging to this species have circulated as Hysterocrates sp. ‘Benin,’ Hysterocrates sp. ‘Niger Delta,’ and Hysterocrates hercules. The first two are informal geographic trade names, while the use of H. hercules represents a likely misidentification rather than a taxonomic synonym. True H. hercules remains recognized as a separate species described from Jebba in present-day north-central Nigeria.
Hysterocrates laticeps has also frequently been confused with H. gigas, and animals maintained under the two names have been unintentionally hybridized in captivity. Both species are large, dark terrestrial burrowers that develop increasingly apparent reddish-brown coloration as the exoskeleton ages, making identification from general coloration alone unreliable. Historical relabeling, uncertain collection data, and accidental crosses have left the identity of some captive lines unresolved. Specimens without dependable provenance or breeding history should therefore be identified cautiously and should not be crossed with established lines solely because they appear similar.
Published information concerning the natural ecology of H. laticeps remains limited. Captive observations are consistent with a strong specialization for subterranean retreats, including extensive excavation, silk reinforcement, and nocturnal activity near the burrow entrance. A modern revision incorporating type material, newly collected specimens, geographic data, and molecular evidence will be necessary to clarify its full distribution, diagnostic boundaries, and relationship to the other large mainland species of Hysterocrates.
Shipping
Shipping
Shipping method for live animal orders:
Orders containing live animals must have a subtotal of at least $50 to qualify for shipping.
For orders containing live animals, we ship throughout the continental U.S. (48 states) via FedEx Priority Overnight. Orders containing both live and non-live products may be shipped together or separately, depending on the items in the order, their sizes, and whether everything can fit safely in one shipment. When non-live products must be shipped separately by USPS, additional shipping charges will apply.
Live-animal packages are normally dropped off on Tuesdays or Wednesdays for next-day arrival. By default, packages are held for pickup at the nearest reasonably accessible FedEx Ship Center authorized to accept the shipment and must be collected in person.
Home delivery is available upon request. When a reasonably accessible authorized FedEx Ship Center is available, customer-requested home delivery is not eligible for our live arrival guarantee and is sent at the customer’s risk.
FedEx Ship Center availability varies by destination, and not every FedEx location is authorized to accept live-animal shipments. If no reasonably accessible authorized FedEx Ship Center is available, we will contact the customer and arrange home delivery. In this circumstance, home delivery remains eligible for LAG, provided all other LAG requirements are met.
Checkout shipping rates and free-shipping offers are based on FedEx Ship Center pickup. Any additional amount charged for home delivery is the customer’s responsibility and must be paid before shipment. For qualifying orders, free shipping covers standard Ship Center service but not any additional home-delivery cost. If no reasonably accessible authorized Ship Center is available and the customer declines the additional charge, the affected portion of the order—or the entire order when necessary—may be canceled without the standard cancellation fee.
We also offer expo pickup and a DFW local-meetup option. Please see our Expo Schedule for additional information.
Shipping method for non-live orders:
For shipments containing no live animals, shipping is available to all 50 states via USPS Ground Advantage or USPS Priority Mail. We will ship non-live orders directly to the address listed on the order, typically the day the order is placed or the following day.
What to expect after placing an order:
If your order contains live animals that will be shipped, we will contact you within 12 hours with a proposed delivery date and, when applicable, the FedEx Ship Center pickup location. If home delivery is requested or required, we will provide the delivery arrangements and any additional shipping charge. We will not ship the package until you confirm the arrangements and any outstanding shipping balance has been paid. Tracking information will be provided on the day of shipment.
Shipping may be delayed because of weather, carrier conditions, our schedule, or if an animal has recently molted or appears likely to molt. We will notify you if a delay is necessary and arrange another suitable date.
Carrier delays can occur. Customers remain responsible for meeting the applicable pickup or receipt requirements on the day the package actually arrives, even if it arrives later than originally scheduled.
Live Arrival Guarantee (LAG):
Buddha Bugs offers a live arrival guarantee only when all of the following conditions are met:
- Freebies are not covered by LAG.
- When a reasonably accessible FedEx Ship Center authorized to accept the shipment is available, the package must be held for pickup at that location.
- If no such location is available, we will arrange home delivery. In this circumstance, home delivery remains eligible for LAG, provided all other requirements are met.
- Packages held at a FedEx Ship Center must be picked up on the day they arrive. Pickup at any time during the location’s regular opening hours is acceptable. Please bring valid identification.
- In the unlikely event of a DOA, the customer must contact us and provide clear photographic or video evidence within three hours of FedEx Ship Center pickup—or within three hours of delivery when an LAG-eligible home delivery applies.
- Shipping costs are not refunded, and replacements may not always be available.
ANY DEVIATION FROM THESE REQUIREMENTS MAY VOID THE LAG.
Home delivery is available upon request. When a reasonably accessible FedEx Ship Center authorized to accept the shipment is available, customer-requested home delivery is not eligible for LAG and is sent at the customer’s risk. When no such location is available, home delivery arranged by Buddha Bugs is eligible for LAG, provided all other requirements are met.
For animal safety, we do not ship live animals for home delivery when temperatures are 90°F or higher or 35°F or lower, regardless of whether the shipment would otherwise qualify for LAG.
FedEx does not reimburse Buddha Bugs for lost packages or the loss of live animals. We take every reasonable precaution to give each shipment the best chance of arriving safely.
Returns & Refunds
Returns & Refunds
Returns & Refunds:
We DO NOT accept returns on live animals.
You may return non-live animal products for a refund within 14 days of delivery. The product must be unused and in its original packaging. After we receive your return, we will process refunds within 5-10 business days. Refunds will not include shipping costs. We will reject used products and, when possible, ship them back to the customer.
If an animal arrives deceased, contact us within the required three-hour period and provide clear photographic or video evidence. When all live arrival guarantee requirements are met, we will provide the applicable refund or arrange a replacement when available. Multi-count products are handled according to the number of live animals received. Shipping costs and freebies are not covered. Please review our Shipping & Live Arrival Policy for complete requirements.
For online purchases with local pickup, pickup at a show, or for purchases made at a show, the customer is responsible for inspecting the purchased items and verifying that they are to their satisfaction. If they are not, they must express any dissatisfaction before the sale is completed, as all sales are final. We are not liable for damages after the customer receives their items due to issues including but not limited to the customer mishandling transport and/or overheating animals.
Cancellations:
Customer-requested cancellations are subject to an approximately 3% cancellation fee. For card payments, the fee is 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction; different payment methods may have slightly higher or lower fee amounts. This reflects the nonrecoverable payment-processing cost charged when the order is placed and not returned to us when a refund is issued. Canceling an order also creates additional labor and temporarily removes inventory from availability, so please make sure you are committed before placing an order.
If a product is unavailable because of an inventory error, we will contact the customer and offer to cancel the affected product or the complete order without a cancellation fee.
If we determine after an order is placed that no reasonably accessible FedEx Ship Center authorized to accept the shipment is available, we will contact the customer with any additional cost required for home delivery. If the customer declines that additional charge, the affected portion of the order—or the entire order when necessary—may be canceled without the standard cancellation fee.
Certain ESA-listed Poecilotheria species cannot be shipped across state lines and are clearly marked “TX SALES ONLY” in their product titles and descriptions. If a customer outside Texas purchases one of these animals, the restricted portion of the order—or the entire order when necessary—will be canceled. The approximately 3% cancellation fee will be deducted from the refund because the restriction was disclosed before purchase. Refunds will be issued to the original payment method, but the time required for the credit to appear depends on the payment provider.
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