Ornithoctoninae

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Ornithoctoninae
Cyriopagopus lividus, female

Cyriopagopus lividus , female

Systematics
Sub-stem : Jawbearers (Chelicerata)
Class : Arachnids (arachnida)
Order : Spiders (Araneae)
Subordination : Tarantulas (Mygalomorphae)
Family : Tarantulas (Theraphosidae)
Subfamily : Ornithoctoninae
Scientific name
Ornithoctoninae
Pocock , 1895
Distribution according to Schmidt (2003)

The Ornithoctoninae , also called Earthtigers in the English-speaking world , are a subfamily within the tarantulas (Theraphosidae) and currently comprise 6 genera and 26 species . (As of December 2018)

distribution

The Ornithoctoninae is a subfamily of tarantulas with a proven distribution area in Asia: Sulawesi , Philippines , Borneo , Java , Sumatra , Singapore , Malaysia , Thailand , Cambodia , Laos , Myanmar , Vietnam and China .

Features and way of life

The subfamily Ornithoctoninae differs from other subfamilies of tarantulas in the presence of a large field of feathered hairs (scopula) on the outside of the chelicerae . It shares this feature with the Harpactirinae , but differs from them by the shape (loosely standing group of thorn-like rods) of the stridulation organ between the outside of the chelicera and the inside of the Tastercoxain.

Most species live in earth tubes, but there are also tree dwellers among them. They are considered a defensive species. In the event of disturbances, they very quickly withdraw into their living tube or cave. If they do not have the opportunity to retreat, take a defensive / threatening position. If they are further provoked, they usually hit the attacker three to four times with their front legs and buttons before they bite.

Systematics

Cyriopagopus albostriatum
Blue Malaysia tarantula ( Omothymus violaceopes )

The subfamily Ornithoctoninae currently comprises 7 genera and 25 species. (As of August 2020)

In Günter Schmidt's work from 2003, the genre also includes six genres; However, Schmidt ran Haplopelma there as an independent genre. Due to the synonymization of Haplopelma with Cyriopagopus and the re-establishment of the genus Omothymus through a revision by Andrew M. Smith and Michael A. Jacobi , the generic assignments within the subfamily changed in 2015 and new species were described for the genus Phormingochilus .

Terrarium keeping

In the pet trade and on tarantula fairs, representatives from the genera Cyriopagopus and Ornithoctonus can be found, which are suitable for keeping in the terrarium .

The former Haplopelma species are tube dwellers - the area of ​​the terrarium plays a subordinate role in keeping them. Much more important is a high ground (at least 15 cm) that allows them to dig and create their tubes. It is recommended to keep them in the Haplopelma special basins, as described by Wirth & Huber (2002). Particular attention should be paid here to their keeping method, especially with regard to watering the basin. Alternatively, the animals can be housed in a fauna box (as high as possible) , which is filled to about five centimeters below the lid with a mixture of potting soil and sand or a loamy forest floor. With this attitude, however, some of the advantages offered by the aforementioned Haplopelma special tanks are lost - especially with regard to the simple observation and control of the animals. Terrarium temperatures of 23 ° –25 ° C are sufficient.

The other Cyriopagopus and Omothymus species, on the other hand, should be housed in a terrarium for tree dwellers, in which a slightly higher soil layer has been introduced, since the animals in the terrarium keeping - especially in juvenile stages - expand their living tubes into the ground.

literature

  • G. Schmidt: The tarantulas. Westarp Sciences, 2003, ISBN 3-89432-899-1 .
  • V. von Wirth, M. Huber: Some practical tips for keeping Haplopelma species and other tarantulas inhabiting tube. In: DeArGe notifications. 7 (11), 2002, pp. 14-23. (dearge.de)
  • V. von Wirth, M. Huber: Earth Tigers - the Asian tarantulas of the subfamily Ornithoctoninae. In: Draco. 4 (16), 2003, pp. 26-36.
  • V. von Wirth, BF Striffler: New findings on tarantulas - subfamily Ornithoctoninae, with description of Ornithoctonus aureotibialis sp. n. and Haplopelma longipes sp. n. (Araneae, Theraphosidae). In: Arthropoda. 13 (2), 2005, pp. 2-27.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Natural History Museum of the Burgergemeinde Bern: World Spider Catalog Version 19.5 - Theraphosidae . Retrieved December 24, 2018.
  2. ↑ G. Schmidt: The tarantulas. Westarp Sciences, Hohenwarsleben 2003, ISBN 3-89432-899-1 .
  3. ↑ AM Smith, MA Jacobi: Revision of the genus Phormingochilus with the description of three new species from Sulawesi and Sarawak and notes on the placement of the genera Cyriopagopus, Lampropelma and Omothymus. In: British Tarantula Society Journal. 30 (3), 2015, pp. 25-48.

Web links

Commons : Ornithoctoninae  - collection of images, videos and audio files