20210509_155715.jpg
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20210509_155715.jpg

G. Pulchra...2 inches
From the picture, I'd label it suspect female. The area looks wet and may just be water that I'm confusing it with. Could you position the light over the exuviae and tag me in the upload?
 
Im sorry, I don't have the molt anymore. However here is a link to a video of me finding the spermatheca flap. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MDVmyZ9iWRKM-Ty_ZTEAeI0r3vf_PdBH/view?usp=drivesdk

@ccTroi
Or at least what I perceive to be that clear small flap
That video is very helpful (and also pointing out that it is clear). If the area of the exuviae in question is not detached (common to do when trying flicking for a flap lol, I'm guilty) but fully intact, then this specimen is female. From the video, I am 75/25 that it is female bc it seems detached directly below the epigastric furrow which may be confused with the flap. However, even if it is detached, it is still possible to observe the uterus externus. Additionally, the size of the flap is just about correct for a 2" specimen of this species.

I have many specimens that I have labeled suspect but will only label them their sex accordingly until I can confirm or refute with a future exuviae that displays obvious spermathecae and uterus externus (or lack thereof) without a doubt that I have what I sexed. I save several pictures of just one exuviae for recordkeeping for references and comparisons.

Thanks for the video and tagging. :)
 
Thank you CCTroi! Appreciate the very helpful follow up. This is my first tarantula but I love science so your detailed description lead me do a lot of reading last night. So that clear flappy thing is (from my reading then) the Uterus Externus.

And now I wait...until the next molt, and hopefully can knock out that other 25% of doubt. Thanks again and have a great week!
 
Thank you CCTroi! Appreciate the very helpful follow up. This is my first tarantula but I love science so your detailed description lead me do a lot of reading last night. So that clear flappy thing is (from my reading then) the Uterus Externus.

And now I wait...until the next molt, and hopefully can knock out that other 25% of doubt. Thanks again and have a great week!
Correct re uterus externus. I’m glad I was able to spark your interest and able to help you out. Feel free to tag me in any of your future sexing pics though I prefer exuviae sexing :)
 
thanks! But one last question...isn't this exuviae sexing? Am I misunderstanding the term exuviae. I thought that mean the molt, so by looking at the molt, we are looking to items to help determine if male or female. Or are you saying that by looking at a later stage exuviae (molt), that other parts like Spermatheca will be more readily apparent!

Thanks again @ccTroi !!
 
thanks! But one last question...isn't this exuviae sexing? Am I misunderstanding the term exuviae. I thought that mean the molt, so by looking at the molt, we are looking to items to help determine if male or female. Or are you saying that by looking at a later stage exuviae (molt), that other parts like Spermatheca will be more readily apparent!

Thanks again @ccTroi !!
To me, molt = the process whereas exuviae = the shed exoskeleton. I’ve used the term “molt” to describe exuviae before, but it doesn’t seem right to me. I prefer calling the shed skin exuviae and the process molt (the spider is molting; the spider is in molt; the spider molted). I think it’s a matter of preference. Sorry for the confusion. Hope this clarifies it :)
 
totally does. And I think that makes sense. Molt is the process, Exuviae is the end product of the molting process. Thank you!
 

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Spermathecae sexing (Molts)
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