Avicularia
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 Female Avicularia versicolor
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Avicularia is a genus of the family Theraphosidae containing various species of tarantulas. The genus is native to tropical South America.
One of the most notable features of the Avicularia species is its odd method of defense. When threatened, their first choice is to jump or run away as quickly as possible - occasionally, though, they will launch a jet of excrement at the perceived threat. Adults are capable of good accuracy and a range of 0.5-1 m (2 or 3 feet).
There is also a belief that they may be the reason behind rumors of "flying spiders" in the rainforests they are native to, as they are quite adept at jumping. Their legs, however, prevent them from gaining much height in making a jump.
Avicularia avicularia are among the tarantulas most commonly kept as pets.
[edit] List of species
- Avicularia affinis (Nicolet, 1849) (Chile)
- Avicularia alticeps (Keyserling, 1878) (Uruguay)
- Avicularia ancylochira Mello-Leitão, 1923 (Brazil)
- Avicularia anthracina (C.L. Koch, 1842) (Uruguay)
- Avicularia aurantiaca Bauer, 1996 (Peru)
- Avicularia avicularia (Linnaeus, 1758) (Costa Rica to Brazil), the Pinktoe tarantula
- Avicularia aymara (Chamberlin, 1916) (Peru)
- Avicularia azuraklaasi Tesmoingt, 1996 (Peru)
- Avicularia bicegoi Mello-Leitão, 1923 (Brazil)
- Avicularia borelli (Simon, 1897) (Paraguay)
- Avicularia braunshauseni Tesmoingt, 1999 (Brazil), the Goliath pinktoe
- Avicularia caesia (C. L. Koch, 1842) (Puerto Rico)
- Avicularia cuminami Mello-Leitão, 1930 (Brazil)
- Avicularia detrita (C. L. Koch, 1842) (Brazil)
- Avicularia diversipes (C. L. Koch, 1842) (Brazil)
- Avicularia doleschalli (Ausserer, 1871) (Brazil)
- Avicularia exilis Strand, 1907 (Surinam)
- Avicularia fasciculata Strand, 1907 (South America)
- Avicularia geroldi Tesmoingt, 1999 (Brazil)
- Avicularia glauca Simon, 1891 (Panama)
- Avicularia gracilis (Keyserling, 1891) (Brazil)
- Avicularia guyana (Simon, 1892) (Guyana)
- Avicularia hirsuta (Ausserer, 1875) (Cuba)
- Avicularia holmbergi Thorell, 1890 (French Guiana)
- Avicularia huriana Tesmoingt, 1996 (Ecuador), the Ecuadorian woolly
- Avicularia juruensis Mello-Leitão, 1923 (Brazil), the Yellow-banded pinktoe
- Avicularia laeta (C. L. Koch, 1842) (Brazil, Puerto Rico)
- Avicularia leporina (C. L. Koch, 1841) (Brazil)
- Avicularia metallica Ausserer, 1875 (Surinam), the White-toe tarantula
- Avicularia minatrix Pocock, 1903 (Venezuela), the Venezuelan redstripe
- Avicularia nigrotaeniata Mello-Leitão, 1940 (Guyana)
- Avicularia obscura (Ausserer, 1875) (Colombia)
- Avicularia ochracea (Perty, 1833) (Brazil)
- Avicularia palmicola Mello-Leitão, 1945 (Brazil)
- Avicularia panamensis (Simon, 1891) (Mexico, Guatemala, Panama)
- Avicularia parva (Keyserling, 1878) (Uruguay)
- Avicularia plantaris (C. L. Koch, 1842) (Brazil)
- Avicularia pulchra Mello-Leitão, 1933 (Brazil)
- Avicularia purpurea Kirk, 1990 (Ecuador), the Ecuadorian purple
- Avicularia rapax (Ausserer, 1875) (South America)
- Avicularia recifiensis Struchen & Brändle, 1996 (Brazil)
- Avicularia rufa Schiapelli & Gerschman, 1945 (Brazil)
- Avicularia rutilans Ausserer, 1875 (Colombia)
- Avicularia soratae Strand, 1907 (Bolivia)
- Avicularia subvulpina Strand, 1906 (South America)
- Avicularia surinamensis Strand, 1907 (Surinam)
- Avicularia taunayi (Mello-Leitão, 1920) (Brazil)
- Avicularia tigrina (Pocock, 1903) (Uruguay)
- Avicularia ulrichea Tesmoingt, 1996 (Brazil)
- Avicularia urticans Schmidt, 1994 (Peru), the Peruvian pinktoe
- Avicularia velutina Simon, 1889 (Venezuela)
- Avicularia versicolor (Walckenaer, 1837) (Guadeloupe, Martinique), the Antilles pinktoe
- Avicularia violacea (Mello-Leitão, 1930) (Brazil)
- Avicularia walckenaeri (Perty, 1833) (Brazil)
[edit] External links
- Photos of 14 Avicularia species in tarantulas gallery.
- Phong's Tarantula page
- The Arachnoboards Forums
