First Tarantula... I.D.?

Trygon · Sep 23, 2004

Hey!
I started my arachnid obsession with scorpions but today i took home my first tarantula. I wasn't going to but when i saw ?her? i just couldnt resist. The dealer told me she was a texas blond (Aphonopelma anax) but i am having serious doubts. When searching through previous posts i came upon a picture of a tarantula that was almost identicle to mine, the spider in he photo was not identified until it molted and showed itself as a Brachypelma vagans. I know very little about Tarantulas so i am not confident in my ID. I'm posting some pictures below and maybe you guys will have some ideas.
Thanks
-trygon

oh... i should just include that her underneath is black except for bright red around her fangs... thats all i think

Malhavoc's · Sep 23, 2004

Well if its full grown it is female. [no bubls or spurs] as for Identification.. I'm not very good at that.. lol

Dekejis · Sep 23, 2004

That looks like Aphonopelma to me. I'd put my money on anax. Here's a couple links to pics

Aphonopelma Anax:
A photo off Mark M. Lucas' site
Another off Swift's site

Here's Brachypelma vagans for contrast:
B. vagans off E-spiderworld

Malhavoc's · Sep 23, 2004

after comparing the pics of the above pictured spider and the ones jsut posted I'd have to second aphno anax.

pitbulllady · Sep 23, 2004

That looks EXACTLY like my two Aphonopelma hentzi girls(well, I am HOPING one is a girl-not really sure)that I got from Wayne T. and ImmortalSin, respectively. Both are very sweet T's. The A. anax's I've seen were much more jumpy and wouldn't hesitate to throw a threat display at the slightest provocation, but like has been said, looks can be a difficult way to tell one of these brown Aphonopelma species from another. It's definately NOT a Brachypelma vagans, though.

pitbulllady

Trygon · Sep 23, 2004

hmmm

The post that makes me question Aphonopelma is entitled "Species??" and was posted by h11te on 5/20/04. The picture at the top of the page is almost identicle to mine and later on is a pic of the same spider after its molt. After the molt its clear that it is a B. vagans. Any thoughts about this?
-trygon

pitbulllady · Sep 23, 2004

Brachypelma vagans had a black carapace, with light yellow-buff edges, NOT brown. The red on the abdomen is also much brighter. My "mystery Aphonopelma" from New Mexico(which might not be a mystery any longer)looked very much like a tiny B. vagans right after her moult, too, but the red faded considerably over the next several days, to a dark chesnut brown.

pitbulllady

Trygon · Sep 23, 2004

brown vs. black

pitbulllady said:
Brachypelma vagans had a black carapace, with light yellow-buff edges, NOT brown.
pitbulllady

I realize that a B. vagans carapace should be black... but i still get confused by that old post, along with some pictures of vagans on the web showing gold carapaces.

However, I am of course a beginner so i dont have any feel for this kind of thing yet. Also, I would be just as happy with an Aphonopelma as with a Brachypelma... just want to know for sure
thanks for your help
-trygon

cichlidsman · Sep 23, 2004

Malhavoc's said:
after comparing the pics of the above pictured spider and the ones jsut posted I'd have to second aphno anax.

I agree looks a lot alike to me too.

Brian S · Sep 23, 2004

It is definetly not a B vagans. It is A anax or A hentzi. Probably anax

Trygon · Sep 23, 2004

new question

My T is spending all its time on the glass sides of the tank or on the top... Is this something ground dwelling species often do or will it take to burrowing etc. as it gets comfortable?

also, other then color, could somebody explain how my tarantula can be identified as an Aphonopelma... are there morphological things to look for?

-trygon

Brian S · Sep 23, 2004

They will sometimes sit on the side of the glass when introduced to a new environment. You may give it a few days to adjust. Also, if the substrate is too damp they will do the same thing.

cichlidsman · Sep 24, 2004

Brian S said:
They will sometimes sit on the side of the glass when introduced to a new environment. You may give it a few days to adjust. Also, if the substrate is too damp they will do the same thing.

I agree. Brian knows what he is talking about.

vulpina · Sep 24, 2004

I would also say A. anax or A. hentzii. Definitely not a vagans.

Andy

Jason la Jason · Sep 24, 2004

I would say the anax as well, if you look closer, the hair on the butt is almost reddish, where the henzi will be more brownish

xanadu1015 · Sep 24, 2004

I agree

I would be very surprised if it actually turned out to be a vegans. I looks to me like an Aphonopelma of some sort

Laura

First Tarantula... I.D.?

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