half and half pulchripes. gynandromorph

[CHLee]

 

[me and my Ts]

Are they alive?

 

[cold blood]

just an area devoid of hair

 

[A guy]

Based on the pedipalps, that's a gynandromorph, right?

 

[Liquifin]

@cold blood If you're wondering what it appears to be. It seems to be a case of gynandromorph, which means it contains features of both male and female characteristics. It's quite a rare thing to see it with tarantulas, but I guess this is a proven case.

 

[l4nsky]

That's the second new gynandromorph I've seen pictures of in as many weeks. There's actually a dealer that has a gynandromorph T. stirmi for sale right now. $15k (no joke) and it's yours ....

 

[A guy]

That's the second new gynandromorph I've seen pictures of in as many weeks. There's actually a dealer that has a gynandromorph T. stirmi for sale right now. $15k (no joke) and it's yours ....

Good deal, half and half with a bonus of a male tarantula's lifespan

 

[BoyFromLA]

$15k (no joke) and it's yours

Stir me…

 

[cold blood]

@cold blood If you're wondering what it appears to be. It seems to be a case of gynandromorph, which means it contains features of both male and female characteristics. It's quite a rare thing to see it with tarantulas, but I guess this is a proven case.

then it would be split down the middle color wise...not just the bottom of the abdomen where there is no hair...even the book lungs just above that look the same..

 

[l4nsky]

then it would be split down the middle color wise...not just the bottom of the abdomen where there is no hair...even the book lungs just above that look the same..

The color is split, but since G. pulchripes doesn't display a high degree of sexual dimorphism in comparison to say L. nigerrimum, it's not as noticeable as other known gynandromorphs. Aside from the coloration split that is more easily noticed on the abdomen and carapace (and patellas), the specimen displays other MM morphology on it's right side only, like a palpal bulb, hook, and longer, skinnier legs. The morphology of the left side of the animal lacks all of these features.

EDIT: Left is right and right is left apparently... Fixed that.

 

[Pmurinushmacla]

Are they alive?

What I was wondering too lol

then it would be split down the middle color wise...not just the bottom of the abdomen where there is no hair...even the book lungs just above that look the same..

You can see this split on the carapace aswell.

 

[cold blood]

The color is split, but since G. pulchripes doesn't display a high degree of sexual dimorphism

you are correct...its just so subtle I missed it and concentrated my attention more ventrally, where the only difference I see is that "bald spot".

 

[Marlana]

Wow…fascinating

 

[Tarantulafeets]

Aside from the coloration split that is more easily noticed on the abdomen and carapace (and patellas), the specimen displays other MM morphology on it's left side only, like a palpal bulb, hook, and longer, skinnier legs. The morphology of the right side of the animal lacks all of these features.

The chelicerae on the male side are smaller as well, wonder if it affects eating.

 

[l4nsky]

@CHLee, if this is your specimen, may I ask if you were ever able to retrieve an intact, sexable molt? I'm curious to know if the spermathecae is fully present, absent altogether, or possibly deformed.

 

[AphonopelmaTX]

@CHLee, if this is your specimen, may I ask if you were ever able to retrieve an intact, sexable molt? I'm curious to know if the spermathecae is fully present, absent altogether, or possibly deformed.

That was exactly what I was thinking too. This tarantula would need to placed into a jar of alcohol as soon as it dies for long term preservation. Dissection of the genital plate to see what female organs are present, if any, would need to be performed too. I would predict it would have half of a spermathecae, maybe half of a uterus too, on the side that lacks the male palpal bulbs and tibial spurs. Further questions come to mind as well about the reproductive anatomy. Does it have testes and ovaries? If so, which one or does it have both?

 

[Singapore_Blue1]

Very interesting! I recently saw one for sale on another site and i thought it was a joke so this isn’t just a one off

 

[arthurliuyz]

It seems to be a case of gynandromorph, which means it contains features of both male and female characteristics. It's quite a rare thing to see it with tarantulas, but I guess this is a proven case.

Wondering what would happen if this happens to a species like Augacephalus junodi where females are much much larger than males.

 

[darkness975]

Looks dead