Avicularia geroldi
The division of living beings into systematics is a continuous subject of research. The term treated here has become obsolete due to recent research and cannot be reliably assigned to any taxon . The cause can be lost original material (type material) or the material used for the first scientific description lacks identifying features in order to clearly differentiate it from similar types.
Avicularia geroldi ( noun dubium ) was the name of a Brazilian species of tarantula . It was described in 1999 by the French arachnologist Marc Tesmoingt . The species was discovered by André Braunhausen and a colleague on the island of Santana in front of the port of Porto de Santana . Today the species status is questioned because it cannot be scientifically verifieddue to the loss of the holotype . This term is still common among terrarium owners.
Name and Taxonomy
The new species was originally supposed to be named after the colleague. Shortly after the death of his grandfather (with the last name "Gerold") it was named by André Braunshausen in his memory.
This species is very similar to the type species Avicularia avicularia and is possibly synonymous with it. The own species status of these animals is doubtful, since the holotype was lost. The species status can therefore no longer be checked.
distribution and habitat
The spiders were discovered on the small island of Santana in front of the port of Porto de Santana . In contrast to the agricultural zones for growing vegetables and fruits on the coasts of the mainland, this island is still untouched. It has an intact tropical primary forest . Many animal species are endemic to this island . A specimen of A. geroldi was discovered 60 centimeters above the ground on a hill in the green leaves of a small wood. Many specimens, however, were found in the dead leaves of palm trees and banana plants that are in tidal zones. Because of the wetlands, the animals were each one to four meters above the ground. In contrast to Avicularia metallica , no animals were found in the bromeliad plants .
features
The animals have a metallic blue-green color all over their bodies. Exceptions are the front part of the tarsi of the legs and the button, which is orange in color. The underside of the carapace and the rear part are black. The rear part has a purple sheen. The animals do not have any distinctive features that can be clearly seen with the naked eye that distinguish them from other species.
The holotype female is four centimeters long without bite claws. The prosoma measures 17 by 14 millimeters and is longer than it is wide. The paratype male is only slightly shorter without bite claws. The body length is 3.7 centimeters. The prosoma is 19 by 17 millimeters long and also longer than it is wide. The abdomen measures 20 by 15 millimeters.
The nymphs are colored differently up to about the fifth molt. Their coloring is very reminiscent of the nymphs of the tarantula species Avicularia metallica , which is common in French Guiana and Suriname . The carapace and the tarsi of the legs and the button are black in color. The remaining limbs of the extremities are colored light brown. Above (dorsally) the abdomen has a black stripe that runs from the carapace towards the spinnerets. On the sides of the abdomen there are still three black spots tapering to a point. The areas in between are colored orange-red above and light brown on the sides.
In the nymph stage
Adolescent specimen in side view
A juvenile specimen from the front
Male in side view
Male in frontal view
behavior
The spider has a tree-dwelling way of life. The mating of animals that are kept in captivity (terrariums) has been successful. No aggressive behavior was observed during courtship or copulation. Two to three months after successful mating, the female builds a cocoon with 100 to 160 eggs, depending on her own body size. The cocoon is constantly guarded and carried around by the mother. After eight to ten weeks, the nymphs finally leave the cocoon.
Web links
Avicularia geroldi in the World Spider Catalog
Individual evidence
- ↑ Natural History Museum of the Burgergemeinde Bern: World Spider Catalog Version 15.5 - Avicularia geroldi . Retrieved September 5, 2014.
- ↑ a b Fukushima, CS & Bertani, R. (2017): Taxonomic revision and cladistic analysis of Avicularia Lamarck, 1818 (Araneae, Theraphosidae, Aviculariinae) with description of three new aviculariine genera. ZooKeys, 659, pp. 1-185.
- ↑ a b c d Marc Tesmoingt: Description de Avicularia geroldi n. Sp. (Ile de Santana-Bresil) (Araneae: Theraphosidae: Aviculariinae). In: Arachnides 43: 17-20. 1999
- ↑ Bastian Rast: Species part of the tarantula forum - A. geroldi . Retrieved November 17, 2013