Brachypelma

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Brachypelma
Female Mexican red-knee tarantula, B. smithi
Female Mexican red-knee tarantula, B. smithi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Family: Theraphosidae
Subfamily: Theraphosinae
Genus: Brachypelma
Simon, 1891
Diversity
20 species
Species

see text

Brachypelma is a genus of the family Theraphosidae containing various species of tarantulas.

Contents

[edit] Characteristics

The species are native to parts of Central America. They are docile tarantulas whose individuals are easy to keep in a terrarium. The most famous species in this genus are the Mexican redknee tarantula B. smithi, curlyhair B. albopilosum, Mexican fireleg B. boehmei, and the Mexican redrump B. vagans. They feed on almost anything smaller than themselves, so while insects and mice are the norm, they may also eat anoles, frogs, and even live minnows if they are offered. These species, like most tarantulas when held in captivity, often become cannibalistic, so individuals must be kept singly, though brief captive introductions of a mate for breeding purposes rarely result in a dead spider, so long as they are separated once they have finished.

B. verdezi was previously misidentified as non-valid B.pallidum.

[edit] Life cycle

These spiders are exceptionally slow growers and have impressive life spans of around 20 years for females. After hatching from a clutch that may vary from 100 to 600 eggs, the spiderlings will molt every two weeks for the first few months, then less and less frequently as they mature. A full-grown Brachypelma may molt as infrequently as once a year. These tarantulas reach sexual maturity at the age of around five years.

Large spiders used in Hollywood movies (e.g. Indiana Jones, The Mummy Returns) are often Brachypelma smithi or Brachypelma emilia because they are very docile, though the much less expensive and only moderately more aggressive Chilean rose tarantula is frequently used as well. While it is almost unheard of for a Brachypelma to bite a human, they are quick to kick urticating hairs in self-defense, though their hairs are reportedly less irritating than those of other species, especially the goliath birdeater.

[edit] Species

  • Brachypelma albiceps (Pocock) 1903 (S.W./Central Mexico) Senior synonym of B. ruhnaui - suspended
  • Brachypelma albopilosum Valerio, 1980 (N. Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras)
  • Brachypelma angustum Valerio, 1980 (Central Costa Rica)
  • Brachypelma annitha Tesmoingt, Cleton & Verdez, 1997 (S.W. Mexico)
  • Brachypelma auratum Schmidt, 1992 (S.W./Central Mexico)
  • Brachypelma baumgarteni Smith, 1993 (S.W. Mexico)
  • Brachypelma boehmei Schmidt & Klaas, 1993 (S.W. Mexico)
  • Brachypelma embrithes (Chamberlin & Ivie, 1936) (Panama, likely spurious)
  • Brachypelma emilia (White, 1856) (N.W.Mexico)
  • Brachypelma epicureanum (Chamberlin, 1925) (N.E. Mexico, unknown)
  • Brachypelma fossorium Valerio, 1980 (N.E. Costa Rica)
  • Brachypelma hamorii Tesmoingt, Cleton & Verdez, 1997 (Mexico, unknown: prob. B,smithi var)
  • Brachypelma klaasi (Schmidt & Krause, 1994) (W. Mexico)
  • Brachypelma sabulosum (F. O. P.-Cambridge, 1897) (Guatemala, poss. beyond)
  • Brachypelma schroederi Rudloff, 2003 (Mexico)
  • Brachypelma smithi (F. O. P.-Cambridge, 1897) (W. Mexico)
  • Brachypelma vagans (Ausserer, 1875) (E. Mexico, Central America)
  • Brachypelma verdezi Schmidt, 2003 (S.W. Mexico)

Doubtful species:

  • Brachypelma andrewi Schmidt, 1992 (Unknown, probably Euathlus sp)
  • Brachypelma aureoceps (Chamberlin, 1917) (USA, likely introduced))

[edit] See also

[edit] External links