Avicularia metallica
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.
The Avicularia metallica ( noun dubium , sometimes also called "Rotfußvogelspinne" in German) was a species of tarantula and was first described in 1875 by Anton Ausserer . Its English name is "Whitetoe Tarantula". Today the species status is questioned because it can not be scientifically verified due to the loss of the holotype . This term is still common among terrarium owners.
habitat
Their distribution area extends from Central America to Ecuador and northern Brazil . The tree-dwelling spider likes to stay in bromeliads , but also builds its solid web of living space in higher tree regions of the rainforests. According to its origin, Avicularia metallica needs a daytime temperature of 27-30 degrees and at night the temperature should be 21-24 degrees. A humidity of 65–75% is ideal.
Appearance
Young animals
The so-called "spiderlings" have a black carapace (upper part of the front body of the spider) up to the 5th moult. The tarsi of the walking legs and the buttons are black, the other limbs light brown. The abdomen has a red-orange basic color that merges laterally into light brown. There is a dorsal black stripe on the abdomen, which runs from the carapace towards the spinnerets. On the sides of the abdomen there are still three black spots tapering to a point.
Adult animals
This species has the name "red-footed tarantula" from the typical red to pink toe tips in the adult stage. These red toes have several Avicularia species, which is why Avicularia avicularia is also sold under the name "Red-footed tarantula" . The body and hair of the Aviculaira metallica is black and only in this species has the blue-metallic shimmer that gives it its name. The black body hair is very dense, can have white hair tips and looks quite bushy. Adult female specimens can reach a body length of approx. 6–8 cm.
behavior
Like almost all tarantulas, Avicularia metallica is primarily nocturnal. Because of its calm and peaceful nature, it is a popular terrarium animal. She defends herself by "anchoring" the attacker (accuracy up to 30 cm), which ensures her escape in the moment of surprise. If it is startled, the red-footed tarantula can run very quickly and also makes surprising jumps.
attitude
Single species Avicularia metallica are now difficult to find, as they are often unknowingly paired with other Avicularia species that look similar. Also, attempts are sometimes made to sell similar species as Avicularia metallica for a higher price.
The terrarium should be at least 30 × 30 × 40 centimeters (width × depth × height). This is filled with about five centimeters of potting soil at the bottom. To keep the humidity high, the soil should occasionally be watered and planted or covered with moss. A cork tube, for example, has proven itself as a shelter. But cork bark can also be hung in a corner of the terrarium. There should also be opportunities for climbing through branches or green plants. The female tarantula of this species is around 15 years old.
feeding
The red-footed tarantula is fed about once a week, depending on its size with house crickets , grasshoppers or cockroaches . The best time to do this is shortly before your active phase, i.e. in the evening. The feed animals should be purchased from pet shops, as there is a risk of parasites or diseases from self-caught animals. Animals that were not eaten after two days and leftover food should be removed again. Especially during the moulting period, no food animals may be in the terrarium, as the spider is defenseless at this stage and can be eaten by the food animals. Young animals (spiderlings) can be fed meat flies (maggots are available in every fishing shop).
rearing
A pair of Avicularia metallica can easily be kept together in a larger terrarium. At the latest when the construction of the cocoon of the female begins, the male should be placed individually. The female should eat a lot before this busy time. After 9 to 12 weeks, up to 150 prelarvae hatch . After the first molt (after approx. 2 weeks) the young animals reach the larval stage. The second moult takes place after another two weeks. The nymphs are now freed from the cocoon by the mother. As a spider holder, you take the spider mother's cocoon while the young are in the prelarval or larval stage, and raise as many animals as you want to breed in a cricket box. Once the larvae have molted into the nymph stage, they should be placed one at a time.
Avicularia cf. metallica back view
Avicularia cf. metallica ventral side
Avicularia cf. metallica adult female
Web links
Avicularia metallica in the World Spider Catalog
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Natural History Museum of the Burgergemeinde Bern: World Spider Catalog Version 15.5 - Avicularia metallica . Retrieved September 5, 2014.
- ↑ 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.