| Common Name | Ornamental Baboon |
| Other Name | Togo starburst |
| Scientific Name | Heteroscodra maculata |
| Species | H. maculata |
| Genus | Heteroscodra |
| Family | Theraphosidae |
| Type | Old world, semi-Arboreal |
| Origin | Ghana, Cameroon, Togo, Africa |
| Max Size | Around 5-6"(13-15cm) |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Longevity | Male : up to 3-4 years, Female : up to 13-15 years |
| Habitat | Tropical forests |
| Temperament | Docile, Quick move |
| Experience level | Intermeditate |
| Webbing | Low |
| Venom | Strong |
| Urticating Bristles | No |
Ornamental Baboon(Heteroscodra maculata) is a species of Old World tarantula first reported to academia in 1899. The tarantula, also called Togo starburst baboon, is found in several West African countries, including Togo, Cameroon, and Ghana. It lives mainly in wet forested areas or wooded savannahs.
Ornamental Baboon can show a pretty fast growth rate. It is known that it takes about three years from spiedering to becoming a full adult. However, balanced nutrition is essential to expect rapid growth. Adults can grow up to 15 cm and have complex patterns consisting of black, gray, and white. On the other hand, juveniles are generally brown to gray throughout the body. As you grow, you can see your hind legs getting stronger.
In adults, it is common to live in trees, but in juveniles, they are often found digging caves.
The Heteroscodra maculata features a very thick hind leg compared to other arboreal tarantulas.
The Heteroscodra maculata has a defensive temperament that allows it to hide out and move fairly quickly, even if it's subtle. Therefore, the container for growing this tarantula must be accompanied by a sufficient amount of soil because it is necessary to have a cork bark or driftwood, and it can dig a little bit. Heteroscodra maculata is not recommended for beginner breeders because it can move faster than we expected. They can get out of the container with a little bit of time.
The Heteroscodra maculata egg sacs contains fewer eggs than you think. One egg sacs is known to contain about 100 eggs, which is relatively small compared to other tarantulas. The mating difficulty of Ornamental Baboon is relatively low.