Subject: Spider Identification
Location: Witbank, Mpumalanga, South Africa
May 5, 2017 10:58 am
Hi.
Found this little big man on my doorstep while sitting outside in the dark. Just caught my eye, needless to say I got a terrible fright!
His back seems to have a “smiley face” on.
Would love to know what’s it called and if poisonous, but I really doubt it.
Thank you
Nataly Oosthuizen
Witbank, Mpumalanga
South Africa
Signature: N Oosthuizen
Dear N Oosthuizen,
The best we are able to provide at this time is that this is a Tarantula, but we don’t know the species. Tarantulas have venom but most are not aggressive and they are not considered a threat to humans.
Whoa is that a wild Heteroscodra maculata?
No they are in west Africa, but there is a superficial resemblance