Theraphosa apophysis

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Pinkfoot goliath
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Mygalomorphae
Family: Theraphosidae
Genus: Theraphosa
Species:
T. apophysis
Binomial name
Theraphosa apophysis
(Tinter, 1991)[1]
Synonyms[1]

Pseudotheraphosa apophysis Tinter, 1991

Charles J. Seiderman, discoverer of Theraphosa apophysis -1990

Theraphosa apophysis is a

Theraphosidae, found in Venezuela, Colombia and Brazil.[1][2]

Description

Theraphosa apophysis generally resembles

Theraphosa blondi, and reaches a similar size.[3] Young T. apophysis spiders have pink shading at the end of each leg, which fades with each moult.[4] T. apophysis has an additional stridulating organ on the coxa of the second leg and thinner femora than T. blondi. The male T. apophysis has tibial apophyses (projections) – hence the species name.[3] The ground colour of both sexes is coffee brown; the legs and opisthosoma have long scattered orange-brown hairs, with long orange hair on the femora. Mature males have a metallic sheen, described as "wine red" in colour, on the cephalothorax, the dorsal surface of the chelicerae, the pedipalps
, and the coxa, trochanter and femur of the legs, as well as the patella of the first leg.

The female specimen on which the species was described had a total body length of 87 mm (3.4 in), with the longest leg (the fourth) being 96 mm (3.8 in) long. The male had a somewhat smaller body, with a total length of 80 mm (3.1 in), and slightly longer legs, the fourth being just under 100 mm (3.9 in) long.[5]

Taxonomy

The species was first described by Andreas Tinter in 1991, as Pseudotheraphosa apophysis.[1] Tinter purchased an individual under the name "Pamphobeteus exsul", but realized that it could not be correctly named, as it possessed stridulatory organs. After further investigation, he named it as a new species in a new genus, Pseudotheraphosa.[5] In 2001, based on a phylogenetic analysis, Rogério Bertani rejected this genus and placed the species in Theraphosa,[6] a view followed since by other workers.[1]

In captivity

Theraphosa apophysis is considered to be a difficult tarantula to care for and maintain, and is therefore not recommended for beginners.[4] This is due to their nervous and defensive disposition, as well as high humidity requirements. However, their large size, food-aggressiveness, and fast growth rate make them desirable for more experienced keepers.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Taxon details Theraphosa apophysis (Tinter, 1991)", World Spider Catalog, Natural History Museum Bern, retrieved 2016-05-19
  2. ^ Bern, Natural History Museum. "NMBE - World Spider Catalog". wsc.nmbe.ch. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  3. ^ a b Peters, H.-J. (2003), "Theraphosa apophysis (Tinter, 1991)", Tarantulas of the World: Amerika's Vogelspinnen (in German), Wegberg, Germany: H.-J. Peters, p. 298
  4. ^ a b http://spacechickinscaresheets.blogspot.com/2008/04/pinkfoot-goliath-tarantula-theraphosa.html[unreliable source?]
  5. ^ a b Tinter, A. (1991), "Eine neue Vogelspinne aus Venezuela Pseudotheraphosa apophysis n. gen. n. sp. (Araneae: Theraphosidae: Theraphosinae)", Arachnologischer Anzeiger (in German), 16: 6–10
  6. ^ Bertani, R. (2001), "Revision, cladistic analysis, and zoogeography of Vitalius, Nhandu, and Proshapalopus; with notes on other theraphosine genera (Araneae, Theraphosidae)", Arquivos de Zoologia, 36: 265–356
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