Grammostola / Phrixotrichus in the Keeper's Guide

[smof]

Hey all. I've just been reading my copy of the Tarantula Keeper's Guide and in there the authors use the genus Phrixotrichus instead of Grammostola. In fact they have it written as Phrixotrichus (Grammostola) pulchra for example. I read some info that said Phrix. was the old genus name that had been changed to Gram. but I was under the impression that it would be the old name that got put in brackets and the new name that didn't, so it would look like Grammostola (Phrixotrichus) pulchra. Is that just me being stupid (wouldn't be the first time)

Also the reason I noticed is because I was attempting to look up Grammostola aureostriata as I've just gotten one. But that species isn't listed in the book at all, not even as a Phrix. aureostriata or something. Has there been a name change concerning G. aureostriata, or was the species only described after 1998 which is when this edition of the book was published? It doesn't appear to list the common name of 'chaco gold knee' under any of the Phrix/Gram species.

I gotta say this book has really fuelled my interest in T's. It's so much more satisfying and worth the money than those countless 60-page books you get on 'my first spider', what with all the natural history and physiology info. I'm very interested to see what changes if/when the 3rd edition is produced. I've even decided that, assuming it's possible, arachnids and specifically Theraphosidae will be the subject of my dissertation when the time rolls around. It's still 2 years away, so I should have a formidable amount of tarantula knowledge by the time it happens.

I can feel an obsession coming on...

 

[MysticKigh]

LOL... you're in good company with the obsession! I wish I could offer you more insight regarding the body of your post, but I don't own the book myself. I can tell you that I acquired my pulchra a little over a year ago and every reference I have found still lists them as G pulchra.
Best wishes with your new obsessive hobby. Be warned T's are like chips or tattoos... you always want 'just one more'!! There are folks on here that'll eat ramen noodles for a month if it means getting that elusive T they've been looking for LOL

 

[Thoth]

Like you read Phrix. is an older synonym to Gram. but there was some debate up until 1996 whether to replace it completely, so maybe the book went to press with Phrix. being the official genus before things were settled conclusively, hence the way things were noted. Just my guess could be wrong.

G. aureostriata was not described as a species until 2001 by Schmidt & Bullmer.