| Tliltocatl verdezi | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Mygalomorphae |
| Family: | Theraphosidae |
| Genus: | Tliltocatl |
| Species: | T. verdezi |
| Binomial name | |
| Tliltocatl verdezi | |
Tliltocatl verdezi (synonym Brachypelma verdezi) is a species of spiders in the family Theraphosidae (tarantulas), found in Mexico. [1]
Tliltocatl verdezi is small for a member of the genus. The male has a total body length of about 30 mm. The fourth leg is the longest, at about 55 mm. The male's body is very dark, almost completely black, with red and orange hair on the upper surface of the abdomen and on the legs. The female has a slightly lighter cephalothorax with a dark triangle at the front. The male has two apophyses (projections) on the tibia of the first leg, the smaller of which has a spine on the inside. [2]
Prior to 2003, there was confusion over the identity of Tliltocatl verdezi. Some spiders in captivity were called "Aphonopelma pallidum" or "Brachypelma pallidum". [2] In 1994, Andrew Smith reported that the male and female preserved specimens that had been used to describe a species under the name "pallidum" actually belonged to two different species, [3] collected more than 1,050 km apart. [2] The males are now treated as Aphonopelma pallidum , [4] the females as Brachypelma albiceps . [5] The spiders in captivity given the name pallidum appeared to belong to neither of these species – for one thing they were very dark in colour, whereas in Latin pallidum means 'pale'. A specimen received by tarantula keeper Heinz-Josef Peters under the name "Aphonopelma pallidum" was sent to Günter Schmidt for study. Schmidt determined that it was a new species, which he named Brachypelma verdezi. The specific name refers to J.-M. Verdez, who was one of the first to realize that these spiders were being incorrectly named. [2] In November 2019, it was proposed that Brachypelma verdezi be moved to the genus Tliltocatl; this has been accepted by the World Spider Catalog. [1]
The distribution of Tliltocatl verdezi within Mexico is Southern Guerrero and into eastern Oaxaca. Ray Gabriel and Stuart Longhorn in 2015 gave the location of a female collected by Arturo Locht in Mexico as Acapulco, i.e. on the Pacific coast. [6] This seemed to contradict the original description Gunter Schmidt [2] who stated that the "locus typicus" is further north and inland than had been reported previously by Locht et al. 1999. [7] by a map indicating south-central Guerrero. However, Schmidt merely went on to define the type locality very poorly as "an unspecified area south of Toluca, Guerrero (Mexico)". Elsewhere he refers to field collected information by Peter Klaas that the "species could occur in the Mexican states of Guerrero and Oaxaca" and who gave detailed their lifestyle in nature. This issue was much later discussed by Longhorn 2014, [8] who clarified that Schmidt was notorious for vague or incorrect locality information, and referring to other published information at the time clearly indicating the stock origins as "Acapulco, Guerrero". Fieldwork by various parties have repeatedly found the same species Tliltocatl verdezi in this coastal zone and north into Central Guerrero, but none have been reported as found anywhere near "Toluca", only much further south. The precise type locality remains unknown, but its natural distribution is now clear.
All species of Brachypelma, then including Tliltocatl, were placed on CITES Appendix II in 1994, thus restricting trade. T. verdezi was not explicitly listed, as it had not been described at the time. [9]
Avicularia is a genus of the family Theraphosidae containing various species of tarantulas. The genus is native to tropical Central and South America. Each species in the genus has very distinguishable pink foot pads.
Brachypelma is a genus of spiders in the family Theraphosidae (tarantulas). They may have bodies up to 6 cm long with legs of similar or greater lengths. Some species have brightly colored legs, with red or orange marks and rings.
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Tliltocatl vagans is a species of tarantula known commonly as the Mexican red rump. It ranges predominantly in Mexico, but is also found in Central America. They are terrestrial, burrowing spiders. The reason for the name red rump is because of its distinctive red hairs on its abdomen. Like most tarantulas, they will eat anything they can overpower, which is usually insects, but small lizards and rodents may also be consumed. They can grow up to a solid 6.5 inch leg span, with males typically being smaller and thinner than the females. They prefer shrubland habitats.
Brachypelma klaasi is a tarantula endemic to Mexico and it is the rarest of the genus Brachypelma.
Aphonopelma pallidum is a tarantula of the family Theraphosidae found in Mexico. Commonly called the rose-grey, or Mexican rose, it is not available in the pet-trade.
Tliltocatl albopilosus is a species of tarantula, also known as the curlyhair tarantula.
Brachypelma boehmei is a tarantula native to Mexico in Guerrero state. These long-lived tarantulas prefer burrowing and hiding in dry scrubland. As with all closely related tarantula species, they defend themselves with urticating hair when provoked.
Brachypelma auratum is a tarantula endemic to the regions of Guerrero and Michoacán in Mexico. In appearance it is reminiscent of the quintessential Mexican red-kneed spider, Brachypelma smithi, albeit darker and with more discrete red striations on the patella. The form of these red markings have earned the spider its common name, the flame knee. Due to the species' similarities to B. smithi, it was not considered a distinct species until 1992. It has been found living communally with a small frog known as Eleutherodactylus occidentalis
Brachypelma albiceps is a species of spider in the tarantula family, Theraphosidae. It is known as the Mexican golden red rump tarantula or the Amula red rump tarantula. The carapace is a light golden color and the abdomen dark, covered with long red hairs. Females typically live for about 15 years. Males usually live about 5 years or up to 12 months after the last molt.
Brachypelma baumgarteni is a tarantula endemic to Pacific coast of Michoacan, Mexico.
Sericopelma is a genus of tarantula, found in Central America from Nicaragua to Panama. The limits of the genus and its distribution have long been confused; it is closely related to the genus Aphonopelma. Sericopelma species are among the largest found in Central America. They can be kept as pets, although at least one species has been described as "very aggressive".
Aphonopelma anitahoffmannae is a species of spider in the family Theraphosidae, found in Mexico.
Tliltocatl aureoceps is a possible species of spider in the family Theraphosidae (tarantulas). The World Spider Catalog regards it as a nomen dubium. Only one female has been described; this was captured in the Florida Keys, but is likely to have been imported from Mexico.
Tliltocatl epicureanus is a species of spider in the family Theraphosidae (tarantulas), found in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico.
Sandinista lanceolatum is a species of spider in the family Theraphosidae (tarantulas), native to Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
Tliltocatl kahlenbergi is a species of spider in the family Theraphosidae (tarantulas), found in Mexico.
Tliltocatl sabulosus is a species of spider in the family Theraphosidae (tarantulas), found in Guatemala.
Tliltocatl schroederi is a species of spiders in the family Theraphosidae (tarantulas), found in Mexico. It is found in the central valley in Oaxaca State, Mexico.
Tliltocatl is a genus of spiders in the tarantula family Theraphosidae. It was split off from Brachypelma in 2020. Species in Tliltocatl are found predominantly in Mexico, with some species native to Central America. They are large burrowing tarantulas, without the striking red leg markings of Brachypelma species.