| Poecilotheria hanumavilasumica | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Mygalomorphae |
| Family: | Theraphosidae |
| Genus: | Poecilotheria |
| Species: | P. hanumavilasumica |
| Binomial name | |
| Poecilotheria hanumavilasumica Smith, 2004 [3] | |
Poecilotheria hanumavilasumica, also known as the Rameshwaram ornamental, or Rameshwaram parachute spider, is a critically endangered species of tarantula.
The ground color of the first pair of legs is daffodil yellow. The femur has a black band covering three quarters of the part. The patella is daffodil yellow with a thin black band distally. The tibia also daffodil yellow with a thick black transverse band. The ground color of the fourth pair of legs is bluish grey, with a black patch proximally. The femur has a bluish grey band. The patella is also bluish grey with faint black mark distally. The tibia isbluish grey. [4]
P. hanumavilasumica bears a strong resemblance to its sibling species, P. fasciata. The distinguishing features between these two species include the following: the band on the femur of leg I in P. hanumavilasumica is notably broader than that in P. fasciata. In P. hanumavilasumica the band on the femur of leg IV forms a continuous line, while in P. fasciata, it appears disjointed. P. hanumavilasumica can be easily distinguished from other species within the same radiation group, such as P. regalis and P. rajaei, due to the presence of a ventral abdominal band. In the case of P. striata, the banding is thicker on all four legs. However, the most distinctive difference between P. hanumavilasumica and its sibling species, P. fasciata, lies in the morphology of the spermatheca. [5]
The diagnosis. P. hanumavilasumica is a member of the Poecilotheria radiation and has bright yellow legs I and II. It includes the Indian and Sri Lankan species Poecilotheria regalis, Poecilotheria fasciata, Poecilotheria rajaei, and Poecilotheria striata. P. hanumavilasumica and P. fasciata, its sister species, are very similar in appearance. The following characteristics separate the two species: Compared to P. fasciata, the band on the femur of Leg I of P. hanumavilasumica is far wider. Leg IV of P. hanumavilasumica has a continuous band on the femur, whereas P. fasciata has a disjointed band. With the ventral abdominal band present on P. regalis and P. rajaei, it may be distinguished from the other species in the radiation with ease. On all four legs of P. striata, the banding is thicker.
It was discovered in 2004 by Andrew Smith from a sacred grove of the Hanumavilasum Temple in Rameshwaram. [1]
It was initially thought to be endemic to the Ramanathapuram district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India, but has since been identified outside India in the Mannar District of Northern Sri Lanka. The close proximity of Mannar island to India suggests that the species may have dispersed over the land bridge between the two countries in the Pleistocene epoch. [5] [6]
Pterinochilus murinus or the orange baboon tarantula, is an old-world tarantula that was first described in 1897 by Reginald Innes Pocock. This species is found on the African continent, in Angola, as well as central, eastern, and southern Africa. It is a member of the subfamily Harpactirinae, baboon spiders.
Poecilotheria is a genus of tarantulas native to India and Sri Lanka. It was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1885. They are arboreal tarantulas, commonly known as ornamental tarantulas, known for their vivid color patterns, fast movement, and potent venom compared to other tarantulas. As of 2019 all species are protected under CITES.
Poecilotheria regalis is a species of arboreal tarantula and is found in parts of India. The common name for this spider is Indian ornamental tree spider, or simply Indian ornamental. It is one of the most popular arboreal tarantulas for amateur collectors. Their leg span sometimes exceeds 7 inches (18 cm).
Tarantulas comprise a group of large and often hairy spiders of the family Theraphosidae. As of December 2023, 1,100 species have been identified, with 166 genera. The term "tarantula" is usually used to describe members of the family Theraphosidae, although many other members of the same infraorder (Mygalomorphae) are commonly referred to as "tarantulas" or "false tarantulas". Some of the more common species have become popular in the exotic pet trade. Many New World species kept as pets have setae known as urticating hairs that can cause irritation to the skin, and in extreme cases, cause damage to the eyes.
Mannar District is one of the 25 districts of Sri Lanka, the second level administrative division of the country. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The capital of the district is Mannar, which is located on Mannar Island.
Poecilotheria ornata, known as the fringed ornamental or ornate tiger spider, is a large arboreal tarantula, which is endemic to Sri Lanka. Their legspan sometimes reaches 10 inches (25 cm) in females, and is probably the second largest of the genus, behind Poecilotheria rufilata.
Poecilotheria rajaei is a tarantula in the genus Poecilotheria endemic to Sri Lanka.
Reddyanus loebli is a species of scorpion in the family Buthidae.
Poecilotheria miranda, also known as the Bengal ornamental is a species of tarantula. The species is endemic to India.
Poecilotheria fasciata, the Sri Lanka ornamental or Sri Lanka ornamental tiger spider, is a large arboreal tarantula. It is endemic to central Sri Lanka.
Poecilotheria smithi, or the yellow-backed ornamental, is a species of large arboreal tarantulas. It is endemic to Sri Lanka and considered to be critically endangered.
Aphonopelma moderatum is a species of spider in the family Theraphosidae, found in United States, in the state of Texas. Commonly called the Rio Grande Gold Tarantula as they are found in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.
Poecilotheria vittata, sometimes called Pederson's ornamental, the ghost ornamental, or magam tiger spider, is an arboreal tarantula. It is endemic to Sri Lanka. In IUCN Red List, the species is cited as a synonym of Indian species Poecilotheria striata, but in other local text books and online publications, it is cited as a separate species. As of February 2016, the species was considered to be native to both India and Sri Lanka by the World Spider Catalog.
Poecilotheria subfusca, or the ivory ornamental, is a spider in the tarantula family, Theraphosidae. It is endemic to Sri Lanka. As of February 2019, the World Spider Catalog regarded Poecilotheria bara as a synonym. Other sources, particularly in the pet trade, have treated highland and lowland forms as distinct species, with the lowland forms being P. bara.
Poecilotheria rufilata, also known as the red slate ornamental, reddish parachute spider, Travancore slate-red, or rufus parachute spider, is an arboreal tarantula. It is endemic to South Western Ghats of India. It is classed as "endangered", threatened by habitat loss and smuggling for the pet trade.
Poecilotheria tigrinawesseli, also known as Wessel's tiger ornamental or Anantagiri's parachute spider, is an arboreal tarantula. It is endemic to Eastern Ghats of India and known from six locations around Andhra Pradesh.
Chilobrachys jonitriantisvansickleae is a species of tarantula of the genus Chilobrachys. It is endemic to Sri Lanka. The species is named for Joni Triantis Van Sickle, a conservationist involved in protecting the area. It is characterized by iridescent blue markings on its legs.
Srilankametrus yaleensis is a species of scorpion in the family Scorpionidae endemic to Sri Lanka.
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