A. geniculata & A. brocklehursti Questions

[Liquifin]

Okay, i'm a little late when it comes to the Acanthoscurria genus. But my question is that basically the A. geniculata and A. brocklehursti are basically the same species, but different variants?? Can someone explain about these two same/different species. To my basic understanding, all hobby A. brocklehursti is actually a variant of the A. geniculata and that the real A. brocklehursti is actually another species or something? It's very confusing for me. Since this genus is not really one that I keep up with. So explanation will be appreciated.

 

[Goopyguy56]

I think they are seperate but similar species. I think the brock has thinner leg banding. Not sure but thats what I know. As crappy as tarantula taxonomy is it has probably changed a few times regarding these species

 

[lostbrane]

So, A. brocklehursti was found to be a junior synonym of Acanthoscurria theraphosoides (Here's the paper on that if you'd like: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/zool/v31n1/08.pdf). Hobby A. brocklehursti is a regional variant of A. geniculata.

 

[Nightstalker47]

Two variants, A.theraphosoides is an entirely different species.

 

[Liquifin]

So A. brocklehursti and A. geniculata are the same, but are different variants like the B. albopilosum with hobby and nicaraguan forms? SO then would you label them the same then for scientific names since they are basically the same species with different variants? And to sum it up, A. theraphosoides is actually a different species. But the thing that confuses me is that is it okay to label them the same then in that case for the A. geniculata and A. brocklehursti?? Or would you still consider them separate??

 

[Nightstalker47]

There was another recent thread where all this was cleared up. Let me try and find it.

 

[Nightstalker47]

http://arachnoboards.com/threads/acanthoscurria-brocklehursti.306417/#post-2780386

 

[AphonopelmaTX]

So A. brocklehursti and A. geniculata are the same, but are different variants like the B. albopilosum with hobby and nicaraguan forms? SO then would you label them the same then for scientific names since they are basically the same species with different variants? And to sum it up, A. theraphosoides is actually a different species. But the thing that confuses me is that is it okay to label them the same then in that case for the A. geniculata and A. brocklehursti?? Or would you still consider them separate??

"Yes" to all questions here except for the comparison to Brachypelma albopilosum. There is good evidence that the two tarantulas sold as B. albopilosum are two different species, not variants. The white ones are Brachypelma albopilosum while the copper haired ones are something else. At least from what I have seen, the female spermatheca morphology is very different between the two. B. albopilosum has a single fused receptacle typical of Brachypelma species, except B. klassi, while the copper ones have two separated receptacles. Kind of like B. klassi but different shape. Also, I hate how everyone keeps labeling them "Honduran form", "Nicaraguan form", "hobby form", etc. since the full extent of their range in Central America isn't fully known. At least we know from the original description of B. albopilosum that the the so-called "Nicaraguan form" (the white fluffy ones) also occur in Costa Rica. It is my opinion that the white fluffy ones should just be called Brachypelma albopilosum while the copper ones should be called Brachypelma sp. "Honduras" until a detailed analysis of the two species is made.

As far as naming A. geniculata and the variant sold as A. brocklehursti, it is best to label them with the same scientific name but designate the variants somehow. I think "narrow bands" for the pet trade brocklehursti is a good one, but the males lack the vertical leg striping so maybe another designation would be better. It doesn't matter. Unfortunately, the taxonomic paper I referenced in the thread @Nightstalker47 linked too does not indicate if the two geniculata variants occur in the same region of Brazil or if they are separated by some geographic barrier.

 

[dangerforceidle]

@petkokc With addressing the mature male B. albopilosum you received to pair with Annie in your latest video, you may be interested in the post above from @AphonopelmaTX. Based on morphology of the female spermatheca, they may not be the same species after all.

I hope you're able to find a "Nicaragua" female.