In 1993 Andrew Smith described a new member of the genus Brachypelma; Brachypelma baumgarteni, named after Marc Baumgarten who supplied the type.

Type locality are the foothills of the Sierra Madre del Sur in the state Michoacan in Mexico.


 
Brachypelma baumgarteni
 
The habitat of Brachypelma baumgarteni

from top to bottom:

1) the foothills of the Sierra Madre del Sur in Michoacan.

  1. 2)crossing the river Balsas, the border between Michoacan and Guerrero.

  2. 3)the mighty river Balsas separates Brachypelma boehmei and Brachypelma baumgarteni.

B. baumgarteni is found in the tropical sub-humid forest along the Pacific coast of Michoacan. During the 5 months in the rain season this region receives less then 1200 mm of rainfall each year (www.worldwildlife.org)


The daytime temperature differs only a view degrees during the year. The mean temperature is 32C during the day and 20C during the night.


The East border for the distribution of Brachypelma baumgarteni is the river Balsas. In the North, the Sierra Madre del Sur stops the species. In the West, B. baumgarteni is sympartic with the Colima population of Brachypelma smithi.

top: Climate graph compiled with data from: http://smn.cna.gob.mx

Bottom: burrow temperature in relation with temperature outside of burrow.

top: Balsas dry forest.

Bottom: adult female Brachypelma baumgarteni at burrow entrance.

Brachypelma baumgarteni adult female, light form

Brachypelma baumgarteni adult female, dark form.

Detail leg IV Brachypelma baumgarteni.

Brachypelma baumgarteni Adult male.

Brachypelma baumgarteni habitat.

For many years there was doubt that this new species was a natural species and not some hobby created hybrid: “It turns out that Brachypelma baumgarteni, the Mexican orangebeauty tarantula is most likely the sterile hybrid of a cross be- tween Brachypelma smithi and Brachypelma boehmei.” (ATS Forum magazine Vol 8 no 6 page 32.) In 2004 i could prove myself that the Brachypelma baumgarteni we had in Europe were not sterile. My female produced a sac holding over 460 live young.