Amazing new species of Hapalotremus described from Peru.

[Terrovax]

Hapalotremus munaycha is a new, snow-white species from the mountains of Peru. The specific epithet means "beautiful" in the Quechua language which is very fitting.

Paper: researchgate.net/publication/386742811_Phylogeny_of_the_high-altitude_tarantulas_Hapalotremus_Simon_1903_Araneae_Mygalomorphae_Theraphosidae_with_the_description_of_a_new_species

 

[viper69]

Great find! I wouldn’t call them Snow White at all based on the images. Reminds me of the somewhat grayish colored H macs. Though maybe there are some that are more white.

Nice to see a taxa paper looking at the higher elevations.

 

[Matt W]

The photos look pretty white. And the paper says "intense white coloration of carapace and chelicerae together with the legs (excepting femora, which are dark or iridescent blue)." They don't seem to have the uniform coloration of H. mac tarantulas, nor the characteristic black-and-white patterning.

Here is a description of the photo that was once embedded in this post: a large tarantula spider. It has a black abdomen with a bright red spot at the posterior end. The lower 5 segments of each leg and pedipalps are a brilliant white, while the upper 2 segments are black. The chelicerae are also brilliant white. The carapace is speckled tan color with randomly distributed white patches.