Brachypelma schroederi
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| Rudloff , 2003 |
Brachypelma schroederi is a medium-sized Mexican tarantula from the genus Brachypelma . It occurs in the area around Acapulco . The species name was chosen in honor of the tarantula owner and breeder Steffen Schröeder from Coswig , who was able to breed this species and observe it over a long period of time. This enabled the description as a separate species. You can sometimes find specimens in pet shops. The animals used tobe confusedby keepers with the related species Brachypelma vagans and Brachypelma pallidum .
Habitat and behavior
The species lives sympatric with other species from the genus Brachypelma in the vicinity of Acapulco. This area is hot all year round with average temperatures between 26 ° C and 33 ° C. The hottest period is between May and October. This is also the time when most precipitation falls. Especially the period between July and October with the peak in September are the wettest with rainfall of up to 300 mm.
In captivity, in contrast to other Brachypelma species , the animals show a more defensive behavior, straighten up immediately if disturbed and take the typical threatening position. The animals are able to mate under four centimeters of body length. Cannibalism is quite possible after a mating if the male has no way of escape. The female builds a cocoon about three to five months after mating. Compared to other Brachypelma species, the cocoon's aging is relatively short and takes about two months (65 days; depending on the temperature). The number of eggs is also significantly lower. The spiderlings are much larger compared to other species (with the exception of Brachypelma kahlenbergi ) but grow much slower.
Features and systematics
Brachypelma schroederi is similar to Brachypelma vagans , but has no longer red hairs on the opisthosoma, the legs or at the edge of the carapace. It is uniformly colored from dark brown to black. The females are five to six centimeters long (measured from the bite claws to the spinnerets). The males remain a little smaller with three to four centimeters in length. The sperm library is not divided into two parts, but indented and four times as wide as it is high.
The taxonomic differences to the similar species B. vagans result not only from the differences in the genitals but also from the arrangement of feather hairs on the buttons and the first pair of legs. The male usually has no thorns on the first pair of legs. The young animals also differ in their developmental stages from B. vagans .
Web links
Brachypelma schroederi in the World Spider Catalog
Individual evidence
- ↑ Natural History Museum of the Burgergemeinde Bern: World Spider Catalog Version 15.5 - Brachypelma schroederi . Retrieved September 11, 2014.
- ↑ a b c d e f Jan-Peter Rudloff: A new Brachypelma species from Mexico, Brachypelma schroederi sp. n. (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Theraphosidae: Theraphosinae). In: Arthropoda 11 (3), 2003: pp. 2-15.
- ↑ Climate diagram Mexico / Veracruz . Wetter.com. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
- ↑ Climate diagram Mexico / Veracruz . Geo.de. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
- ↑ Bastian Rast: Species on vogelspinnenforum.ch about B. schroederi . Retrieved September 11, 2014