List of tarantulas of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a tropical island situated close to the southern tip of India. The invertebrate fauna is as large as it is common to other regions of the world. There are about 2 million species of arthropods found in the world, and still it is counting. So many new species are discover up to this time also. So it is very complicated and difficult to summarize the exact number of species found within a certain region.
The following list provide the tarantulas in Sri Lanka.
Tarantulas
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Family: Theraphosidae
Tarantulas are easily identified by their hairy nature and large size from other commonly encountered spiders. Throughout the world, they are considered as a popular exotic pets, as most of the tarantulas are non-poisonous to humans. In Sri Lanka, the largest known specimens are size of a dinner plate,[1] or size of the palm. There are over 9000 species of tarantulas are described from all over the world, where they are not found in most of the Europe, North America and other Arctic colder regions. They are well distributed in Africa, south of Asia, South America, and Oceania. Indian subcontinent including India and Sri Lanka is home to 15 tarantula species, where India has 7 endemic species and Sri Lanka has 7 endemic species, where another one species is native to both countries.
The species called Poecilotheria amarasekarai is still in debate, whether it is a distinct species or the morph of Poecilotheria rajaei.
The species Poecilotheria hanumavilasumica, thought to be endemic to India, was recently found from Mannar district of Sri Lanka.[2]
The species once classified as Poecilotheria vittata is now identified as the same species of Poecilotheria striata, which is endemic to India.
Name | Binomial | Distribution in island |
---|---|---|
Sri Lankan ornamental tarantula | Poecilotheria fasciata | central Sri Lanka |
Rameshwaram ornamental tarantula | Poecilotheria hanumavilasumica | North-western Sri Lanka |
Fringed ornamental tarantula | Poecilotheria ornata | southern Sri Lanka |
Mankulam Pink-banded ornamental tarantula | Poecilotheria rajaei | northern Sri Lanka |
Yellow-backed ornamental tarantula | Poecilotheria smithi | south central Sri Lanka |
Ivory ornamental tarantula | Poecilotheria subfusca | south central Sri Lanka |
Common ornamental tarantula | Poecilotheria uniformis | central Sri Lanka |
References
- ↑ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/9974215/Tarantula-the-size-of-a-dinner-plate-discovered-in-Sri-Lanka.html
- ↑ http://www.researchgate.net/publication/272028296_Discovery_of_the_Critically_Endangered_Tarantula_Species_of_the_Genus_Poecilotheria_(Araneae_Theraphosidae)_Poecilotheria_hanumavilasumica_From_Sri_Lanka
- http://www.tarantupedia.com/selenocosmiinae/poecilotheria
- http://www.wired.com/2013/04/new-giant-tarantula/
- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2304180/Face-size-Tarantula-Sri-Lanka-Venomous-Poecilotheria-Rajaei-discovered.html
- http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/giant-new-kind-of-tarantula-discovered-in-sri-lanka-8561530.html