Sandinista lanceolatum

Last updated

Sandinista lanceolatum
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Mygalomorphae
Family: Theraphosidae
Genus: Sandinista
Longhorn & Gabriel, 2019 [1]
Species:
S. lanceolatum
Binomial name
Sandinista lanceolatum
Valerio, 1980 [1]
Synonyms [1]
  • Eurypelma lanceolatumSimon, 1891
  • Brachypelma fossoriaValerio, 1980
  • Brachypelma fossorium(Valerio, 1980)
  • Aphonopelma lanceolatum(Simon, 1891)
  • Stichoplastoris fossorius(Valerio, 1980)

Sandinista lanceolatum (synonyms include Aphonopelma lanceolatum and Brachypelma fossorium) is a species of spider in the family Theraphosidae (tarantulas), native to Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

Contents

Description

Sandinista lanceolatum is a relatively small spider compared to many other Central America tarantulas. For a pair of Costa Rican specimens, the author Carlos Valerio described a few select attributes such as cephalothorax less than 18 mm long: being 14 mm in his holotype male and 16 mm in the paratype female. Valerio also indicated that the fourth leg is the longest: 43 mm in the holotype male and 54 mm in the paratype female. The body and legs are covered with reddish brown hairs (setae). The "brush" of hairs (scopula) on the metatarsus of the fourth leg is short, limited to the distal third. The male's palpal bulb is less than 4 mm long; the spermatheca of the female is of slightly less width. Females have larger chelicerae than males. [2] Such attributes are generally not considered as useful subsequent works, for example with males since shown to be highly variable, i.e. see Longhorn and Gabriel 2019.

Taxonomy

The taxonomic history of this species is somewhat tangled. As now understood, it was first described by Eugène Simon in 1891 as Eurypelma lanceolatum. Under this name it was transferred to the genus Aphonopelma as Aphonopelma lanceolatum in 1993. Separately, in 1980, Carlos Valerio described a species as Brachypelma fossoria, with the specific name referring to the "fossorial" or burrowing habits of the species. [2] The specific name was amended to fossorium by Günter Schmidt in 1992, [3] as Brachypelma is neuter in gender. In 2019, Stuart Longhorn and Ray Gabriel synonymized Brachypelma fossoria with Aphonopelma lanceolatum, and transferred the species to the new genus Sandinista. In 2020, Jorge Mendoza and Oscar Francke transferred Brachypelma fossoria to the genus Stichoplastoris, without recognizing the synonymy with Sandinista lanceolatum. As of March 2020, the World Spider Catalog uses the name Sandinista lanceolatum. [1]

Distribution and habitat

Sandinista lanceolatum is found in the Guanacaste Province in Costa Rica in the north-west Pacific lowlands, and several Departments of Nicaragua in similar Western lowlands. It is found in grasslands in dry tropical areas. The female described by Valerio was collected from a horizontal burrow which it shared with several juveniles. The relatively large chelicerae of the females may be connected to their burrowing habit. [2]

Conservation

All species of Brachypelma, then including Sandinista lanceolatum as B. fossorium, were placed on CITES Appendix II in 1994, thus restricting trade. [4]

Related Research Articles

<i>Avicularia</i>

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.

<i>Brachypelma</i> Genus of spiders

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.

<i>Aphonopelma</i> Genus of spiders

Aphonopelma is a genus of tarantulas native to the Americas. It includes nearly all the North American tarantula species north of Mexico and a considerable percentage of the tarantula species that range into Central America. Most are fairly large tarantulas with leg spans of 6 in (16 cm) or more. Like most New World tarantulas, all species of Aphonopelma have urticating hairs. Despite their fearsome appearance, these tarantulas are not harmful to humans and some species are popular in the pet trade. With about 90 species described so far, Aphonopelma comprises about 10% of the total number of described tarantula species. However, their taxonomy is poorly understood and species are difficult to tell apart, especially those that are brown or black without other pattern. Therefore, the actual number of species is unknown, with more species likely to be identified in the near future. In captivity, they are usually fed crickets; in the wild, they eat most insects, including crickets, grasshoppers, cockroaches, mantises, and beetles.

<i>Brachypelma hamorii</i> Species of arachnid

Brachypelma hamorii is a species of tarantula found in Mexico. It has been confused with B. smithi; both have been called Mexican redknee tarantulas. Many earlier sources referring to B. smithi either do not distinguish between the two species or relate to B. hamorii. B. hamorii is a terrestrial tarantula native to the western faces of the Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre del Sur mountain ranges in the Mexican states of Colima, Jalisco, and Michoacán. The species is a large spider, adult females having a total body length over 50 mm (2 in) and males having legs up to 75 mm (3 in) long. Mexican redknee tarantulas are a popular choice for enthusiasts. Like most tarantulas, it has a long lifespan.

<i>Brachypelma smithi</i> Species of spider

Brachypelma smithi is a species of spider in the family Theraphosidae (tarantulas) native to Mexico. It has been confused with Brachypelma hamorii; both have been called Mexican redknee tarantulas. Mexican redknee tarantulas are a popular choice as pets among tarantula keepers. Many earlier sources referring to B. smithi either relate to B. hamorii or do not distinguish between the two species. B. smithi is a terrestrial tarantula native to Pacific coast of the Mexican state of Guerrero.

<i>Cyriopagopus schmidti</i> Species of spider

Cyriopagopus schmidti is a species of spider in the family Theraphosidae (tarantulas), found in China and Vietnam. It is one of a number of species known as "Chinese bird spider" and "Chinese earth tiger". Haplopelma huwenum was synonymized with this species in 2008. Spiders under this name and its synonyms have been shown to produce toxins called huwentoxins.

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.

<i>Aphonopelma chalcodes</i> Species of spider

Aphonopelma chalcodes, commonly known as the western desert tarantula, Arizona blond tarantula or Mexican blond tarantula is a species of spider belonging to the family Theraphosidae. It has a limited distribution in the deserts of Arizona and adjacent parts of Mexico but can be very common within this range. The common name "blond tarantula" refers to the carapace, which is densely covered in pale hairs, and contrasts strongly with the all-dark legs and abdomen. The female body length is up to 56 mm, males only reaching 44 mm.

<i>Tliltocatl albopilosus</i> Species of spider

Tliltocatl albopilosus is a species of tarantula, also known as the curlyhair tarantula.

Tarantula Family of spiders

Tarantulas comprise a group of large and often ″hairy″ spiders of the family Theraphosidae. Currently, about 1,000 species have been identified. 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 urticating hairs that can cause irritation to the skin, and in extreme cases, cause damage to the eyes.

<i>Brachypelma albiceps</i> Species of spider

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.

<i>Aphonopelma anax</i> Species of spider

Aphonopelma anax, commonly known as the Texas tan tarantula, is a species of spider belonging to the family Theraphosidae native to southern Texas and northern Mexico.

Aphonopelma hollyi, also known as the Lubbock gold tarantula, is considered by some sources to be a species of tarantula native to Texas in the United States. Described in 1995, the scientific name honors the 1950s rock-and-roll singer Buddy Holly. Other sources suggest spiders given this name are actually Aphonopelma hentzi.

<i>Aphonopelma marxi</i> Species of spider

Aphonopelma marxi is a species of spider in the family Theraphosidae (tarantulas), found in United States. Aphonopelma behlei and A. vogelae, at one time considered separate species, are now considered to be synonyms.

<i>Sericopelma</i>

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".

<i>Tliltocatl epicureanus</i> Species of spider

Tliltocatl epicureanus is a species of spider in the family Theraphosidae (tarantulas), found in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico.

<i>Tliltocatl schroederi</i> Species of spider

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.

<i>Tliltocatl verdezi</i> Species of spider

Tliltocatl verdezi is a species of spiders in the family Theraphosidae (tarantulas), found in Mexico.

<i>Tliltocatl</i> Genus of spiders

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.

<i>Sericopelma embrithes</i> Species of spider

Sericopelma embrithes is a tarantula that is native to Panama. To date, only specimens from Barro Colorado Island have been studied. Like other tarantulas, it is relatively large compared to other spiders. It can grow up to 59 mm long, including its chelicerae. S. embrithes is data deficient according to the IUCN.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Taxon details Sandinista lanceolatum Valerio, 1980", World Spider Catalog, Natural History Museum Bern, retrieved 2020-03-01
  2. 1 2 3 Valerio, C.E. (1980), "Arañas terafosidas de Costa Rica (Araneae, Theraphosidae). I. Sericopelma y Brachypelma", Brenesia (in Spanish), 18: 259–288
  3. Schmidt, G. (1992), "Brachypelma Simon 1890 oder Euathlus Ausserer 1875? (Araneida: Theraphosidae: Theraphosinae)", Arachnologischer Anzeiger (in German), 3 (1): 9–11
  4. "Brachypelma smithi (F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897): Documents", Species+, UNEP-WCMC & CITES Secretariat, retrieved 2017-09-22