Species Brachypelma smithi (a.k.a. Brachypelma annitha)

[The Spider House]

A couple of my AF B smithi in new (ish) clothes

 

[LucN]

Awesome pics, it's interesting to see the variation in the carapace pattern.

 

[The Spider House]

Awesome pics, it's interesting to see the variation in the carapace pattern.

Totally agree, I have 4 AF and a number of SA and juvies etc and they are all completely different. These are the carapace markings on the 4 AF. The earlier pics are of #3 and #4 after recent moults. Waiting on #1 and #2 to refresh this collage.

 

[LucN]

#3's almost looks like an emilia with that triangle shaped mask.

 

[The Spider House]

#3's almost looks like an emilia with that triangle shaped mask.

Especially with the latest pic. One of my males just basically has the 'emilia' triangle so may put those together when the time is right.
My favourite pattern is #2 (although #4 is a close second ha ha)

 

[LucN]

Has there been smithi with an all-black carapace like hamorii, adding to further confusion ?

 

[The Spider House]

Has there been smithi with an all-black carapace like hamorii, adding to further confusion ?

I believe so. Where they appear in their native habitat, the river balsas (I think that's right) basically splits the hamorii and smithi species. The nearer to the river the darker the carapace is in the smitbi so almost fully black like hamorri. That's one of the reasons why they say don't just look at the carapace to ID a smithi (ex annitha) it's more about the orange segments on the legs and the base hair in the chelicerae are black in the smithi with beige/orange accent hairs whereas the hamorii tend to have lighter base hairs. Hamorri are not always fully black on the carapace either.
Subtle differences on paper and pictures not ideal. When you have live spiders of each next to each other, it's easier to see the differences

 

[The Spider House]

AF #1 moulted today (30.8.21).
Not had chance to check carapace pattern as didn't want to disturb her but will try get a nice pic in a few days.

 

[The Spider House]

She was out so managed to get a decent carapace shot of #1

 

[LucN]

What a beautiful girl ! Love that carapace pattern.

 

[The Spider House]

What a beautiful girl ! Love that carapace pattern.

Thank you. To see the pattern before the moult she is #1 in the collage further up.