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Some time ago a new species of tarantula was presented in the hobby by the Belgian tarantula dealer Oly Lenskens as Bonnetina papalutlensis. Jorge Mendoza and Volker von Wirth expressed doubts that the Spiders belongs actually to Bonnetina papalutlensis (Pic 1). Recently, Oly sent us two exuviae of this species from two adult females for identification. The Species description of Bonnetina papalutlensis by Mendoza and the excellent revision of the genus Bonnetina by Ortiz and Francke from 2017 were used for identification.
Based on the identification key for the females of the genus Bonnetina on page 838 of the revision mentioned, the alleged B. papalutlensis could be identified quite clearly as Bonnetina tanzeri Schmidt 2012 (Pic 2)!
The following characteristics led to this result:
- B. papalutlensis has a unilobed spermatheca with a distinct finger-like elevation in the middle (Pic 3). The present specimen lacks this finger-like elevation. Its spermatheca forms only a single curved lobe (Pic 4). Only one species within the genus Bonnetina is known to have this spermatheca shape and that is Bonnetina tanzeri Schmidt, 2012 (Pic 5)!
- The arrangement of the labial and maxillary cuspules, the shape of the "labialmounds", the shape of sternum and the position of the sternal sigillae in the type of B. tanzeri (Pic 6) corresponds to the arrangement in the present exuvia (Pic 7).
- The fovea (Pic 8) and the anterior row of eyes (Pic 9) are procurve in the present exuvia, similar to the type of B. tanzeri. Only the posterior row is strongly recurved in the exuvia, while it is described as slightly recurved in B. tanzeri.
- The scopulation of the metatarsi of all legs in the exuvia mostly agrees with B. tanzeri (Pic 10 - 13). Only the tarsus of the 3rd leg is not slightly divided by hairs, as stated for B. tanzeri.
- The relation factor between leg I and IV of B. tanzeri RF: (85) also almost agrees with that of the present exuvia (RF: 80).
- Only urticating hairs of type III could be found dorsally on the opisthosoma (Pic 14), but this only generally speaks for the genus Bonnetina!
CONCLUSION: Based on the genital morphological similarities of the examined exuvia of a female of the species that was sold by the belgian Tarantula dealer Oly Lenskens as "Bonnetina papalutlensis", we are convinced that this species is in fact Bonnetina tanzeri Schmidt, 2012, not only because also some more of the taxonomical characteristics correspond to the description of this species in the mentioned revision. The examination of the adult male will confirm our diagnosis or even show that it is a new, previously undescribed species closely related to B. tanzeri. As we were able to show, it will definitely NOT be "Bonnetina papalutlensis", as Jorge Mendoza and Volker von Wirth had already suspected! The results of he exmaination oft he male will be presented as soon as possible here in this Forum!
REFERENCES:
Mendoza M, JI (2012). Bonnetina papalutlensis a new species of tarantula from Guerrero, Mexico, with notes on reproduction (Araneae, Theraphosidae, Theraphosinae). Revista Ibérica de Aracnología 20: 57-62
Ortiz, D. & Francke, O.F. (2017). Reconciling morphological and systematic moleculars in tarantulas (Araneae: Theraphosidae): revision of the Mexican endemic genus Bonnetina. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 180(4): 819-886.
Based on the identification key for the females of the genus Bonnetina on page 838 of the revision mentioned, the alleged B. papalutlensis could be identified quite clearly as Bonnetina tanzeri Schmidt 2012 (Pic 2)!
The following characteristics led to this result:
- B. papalutlensis has a unilobed spermatheca with a distinct finger-like elevation in the middle (Pic 3). The present specimen lacks this finger-like elevation. Its spermatheca forms only a single curved lobe (Pic 4). Only one species within the genus Bonnetina is known to have this spermatheca shape and that is Bonnetina tanzeri Schmidt, 2012 (Pic 5)!
- The arrangement of the labial and maxillary cuspules, the shape of the "labialmounds", the shape of sternum and the position of the sternal sigillae in the type of B. tanzeri (Pic 6) corresponds to the arrangement in the present exuvia (Pic 7).
- The fovea (Pic 8) and the anterior row of eyes (Pic 9) are procurve in the present exuvia, similar to the type of B. tanzeri. Only the posterior row is strongly recurved in the exuvia, while it is described as slightly recurved in B. tanzeri.
- The scopulation of the metatarsi of all legs in the exuvia mostly agrees with B. tanzeri (Pic 10 - 13). Only the tarsus of the 3rd leg is not slightly divided by hairs, as stated for B. tanzeri.
- The relation factor between leg I and IV of B. tanzeri RF: (85) also almost agrees with that of the present exuvia (RF: 80).
- Only urticating hairs of type III could be found dorsally on the opisthosoma (Pic 14), but this only generally speaks for the genus Bonnetina!
CONCLUSION: Based on the genital morphological similarities of the examined exuvia of a female of the species that was sold by the belgian Tarantula dealer Oly Lenskens as "Bonnetina papalutlensis", we are convinced that this species is in fact Bonnetina tanzeri Schmidt, 2012, not only because also some more of the taxonomical characteristics correspond to the description of this species in the mentioned revision. The examination of the adult male will confirm our diagnosis or even show that it is a new, previously undescribed species closely related to B. tanzeri. As we were able to show, it will definitely NOT be "Bonnetina papalutlensis", as Jorge Mendoza and Volker von Wirth had already suspected! The results of he exmaination oft he male will be presented as soon as possible here in this Forum!
REFERENCES:
Mendoza M, JI (2012). Bonnetina papalutlensis a new species of tarantula from Guerrero, Mexico, with notes on reproduction (Araneae, Theraphosidae, Theraphosinae). Revista Ibérica de Aracnología 20: 57-62
Ortiz, D. & Francke, O.F. (2017). Reconciling morphological and systematic moleculars in tarantulas (Araneae: Theraphosidae): revision of the Mexican endemic genus Bonnetina. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 180(4): 819-886.
