There's still a lot of confusion over this in the Tarantula world.
Basically, both are Pterinochilus genus tarantulas. So they will have characteristically similar markings, genetic makeup and behaviour (broadly speaking)
Idi is a Pterinochilus murinus, commonly referred to in the trade as a Mombassa Golden Starburst.
They tend to be burrowers and like it dry - although they often web as well.
Mugabe is what's known as the Red Colour Form or Orange Colour Form Baboon. You'll often find it called an Usambara Baboon.
Explanation.
Mugabe is basically the same as Idi - they are physically almost identical, very similar temperament, and the markings are the same. The colour is different - the RCF/OCF Baboons range from pale orange to deep red like mine is.
They live in the same area of Africa but at higher altitude, in the Usambara mountains (hence the name)
They are opportunistic - they don't strictly burrow or climb, they adapt to the surroundings.
Sometimes they are called Pterinochilus spinifer - this is incorrect, P. spinifer is a different species. There is some debate whether these tarantulas are a colour morph of Pterinochilus murinus (like a variant of the same species) or a completely different and as yet unclassified Pterinochilus sp. (the sp. means it's an unidentified species of a particular genus)
So basically the scientists haven't got around to making their minds up and giving an official name to the species, hence all these names like "Usambara" "Orange Starburst" "Red Color Form Starburst" etc etc.
Rick C West (spider guru) says:
The "Usambara gold" is a Pterinochilus sp., nothing more, and nothing less at this point in time. Although closely allied to Pterinochilus murinus Pocock, 1897, which is found in the more arid scrub/grassy lowland around Mombasa, Kenya, the "Usambara gold" occurs between 3000 to 6000 feet in the lush tropical forests of the Usambara Mountains in northeastern Tanzania.
Aside from the totally different habitat, there are subtle differences between the female seminal receptacles and male palpal bulbs, not to mention the obvious color and size difference It's difficult to say if these differences are geographical race differences or are enough to describe a separate species. Further study is needed, however, only with a large sampling of wild stock with reliable collection data. Some people just can't accept "at this time, this is a Pterinochilus sp." and therefore grasp at names.
I've heard the "Usambara gold" referred to as Pterinochilus spinifer Pocock, 1898. I've studied the P. spinifer "type" housed in the BMNH, along with all the other East African theraphosids, as well as examined all the theraphosids in the Nairobi National Museum, and can confidently tell you that the "Usambara gold" is nothing more than Pterinochilus sp. at this time.
So basically nobody really knows.
I refer to Mugabe as P. sp (Usambara Colour Form)
How's tricks?
