Spider of the Month:

                          Augacephalus junodi

                  (Golden starburst baboon spider)

 

Distribution: Namibia and South Africa

Coloration: Legs, palpi and abdomen beige, increasingly ruddy distally on appendages. Leg and palp joints are pale yellow. Chelicerae grey and velvety. Carapace black with pale yellow radial pattern and dark "mask" around the ocular tubercle. Dorsum of abdomen with dark pattern of bars, spots and reticulations. Venter of abdomen dark brown with pale sub-abdominal band over and between posterior booklung covers, in some specimens this pale band extends onto posterior region of epigastric scutum . Sternum, coxae and trochanters velvety black.

Fovea: deep, slightly procurved

Spermathecae: medial constricted 

Palpal bulb: sub-pyriform, with curved, acuminate embolus; angle between embolus and tegulum acute. Keels absent along embolus 

Body length: male ~15mm, female ~50mm

Guides & Rangers do not recommend using any of the plants mentioned for medicinal purposes, without seeking expert medical advice.

Journals consulted: Trees of Southern Africa by Keith Coates Palgrave

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