Heterothele villosella, commonly known as the Tanzanian Chestnut Baboon or Tanzanian Olive, is a small "dwarf" species of tarantula native to East Africa. It is highly regarded in the hobby for its intense webbing behavior and its rare ability to be kept in communal groups. 
 
Species Overview
Classification: Old World terrestrial/fossorial tarantula.
Appearance: Features a cryptic pattern of chestnut, golden, and grey shades. The carapace often displays a distinct "starburst" pattern.
Size: A true dwarf species; females reach an adult leg span of roughly 2.5 to 3 inches (6–7 cm), while males are smaller, usually around 1.5 to 1.75 inches.
Lifespan: Females can live between 8 to 15 years, whereas males typically live 3 to 5 years. 
 
Behaviour and Temperament
Webbing: They are prolific, "heavy" webbers. If given structure, they will quickly fill their enclosure with intricate funnel webs and silk tunnels.
Social Nature: Unlike most solitary tarantulas, H. villosella can often be housed communally if provided with sufficient space and food, showing a high level of tolerance for conspecifics.
Temperament: Generally skittish and extremely fast. While they may give a bluff threat pose if cornered, their first instinct is almost always to flee into a burrow or web. 
 
Care and Husbandry
Enclosure: Requires a terrestrial setup with several inches of substrate for burrowing (4–8 inches is recommended). Anchor points like cork bark or branches should be included to support their extensive webbing.
Climate: Thrives in temperatures between 75°F and 85°F (24°C–29°C) with humidity maintained around 60% to 75%.
Diet: An enthusiastic feeder that accepts small insects such as crickets, roaches (like Dubia or Lateris), and mealworms. They are known to tackle prey larger than themselves.
Skill Level: Often recommended as a "stepping stone" for keepers moving from New World to Old World species due to their manageable size and relatively calm nature compared to other baboon spiders.