A behlei

[Brandon]

Ernie,
Down by tuscon? in that case its not A behlei, the name slips my mind A behlei only occure around Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon. Infact there might not be a Sci name for this. I would contact a local tarantula Athority, or email me privatally at versicolorking@aol.com and i would be more than happy to help you out.

Sincerely,

Brandon

 

[MrT]

Brandon,
I just looked it up again and the range is from Az. into New Mexico

http://taipan.nmsu.edu/people/richman/southwest.html

See what you think.

Ernie

 

[Brandon]

Mr T,,
The range they refer to is in northern AZ. I live in az as well and collect to. I am no expert but there are 3 species that look like A behlei that live in AZ. The range of A behlei is northern AZ and northern NM, Tuscon is far to south to be in that range. I strongly fill you have something else.

Sincerely,

Brandon

 

[MrT]

Very well could be, Brandon.
What do you think it is?
Its was very blonde when collected. After the last molt it went almost black.
I'll try to get a better pic. to post.

Ernie

 

[dilleo]

If you live in arizona try to take it to a shop. I know there are some shops there that have some expert on the native Aphonopelma there and would be happy to id it.

-Jeremy

 

[VI6SIX]

Its was very blonde when collected. After the last molt it went almost black.


Ernie [/B][/QUOTE] are you sure it's not a male?

 

[Wade]

Ernie + Brandon-

I collected some tarantulas very much like the the one in Ernie's pic, also in the Tucson area (about an hour south in Rio Rico). They have about a 3" legspan and are stocky and heavy. At first, I believed they were immature (and very dark) A. chalcodes, but I also collected some males that appeared to be the same species (much smaller and blacker than A. chalcodes males). I thought at one point that they were A. paloma, but I learned they were too big to be that. They also (the females) have a redish setae on the abdomen, while A. paloma is supposed to be all black. Like Ernie's, mine are also much darker folowing a molt, but this common with many Aphono's, so it may not mean much. Annother interesting thing was that they were all collected in a parking lot, wandering around. Normal for males, but kind of unusual for females, I thought. A recent heavy rainstorm may have driven them from the burrows, but they seemed to be taking advantage of the insects that had been drawn to the lights.

Anyway, if anyone gets a line on what they are, I'd love to know myself!

Wade