Highlighting the difference between Pamphobeteus sp. ‘nigricolor’ & Pamphobeteus nigricolor (and insignis)

[antinous]

I thought I’d share this to make an effort to help shine the light on these species being mislabeled.

Pamphobeteus sp. ‘nigricolor’ (Ecuador) has NO connection to Pamphobeteus nigricolor (true Colombian) or affinis I & II.

There is NO resemblance between the two besides the current genus they’re in. The Ecuador species has a Christmas tree pattern while the true type species does not. Although both are gorgeous spiders, one should be cognizant of the differences between them and not overpay for the species they think they’re getting.

Same thing can be said with Pamphobeteus sp. ‘insignis’ and Pamphobeteus insignis.


Pamphobeteus sp. ‘nigricolor’ (Ecuador) vs. Pamphobeteus nigricolor


Pamphobeteus affinis nigricolor II & Pamphobeteus nigricolor


Pamphobeteus insignis

 

[c.h.esteban]

Just a note to the "nirgricolor-issue".
I´m afraid there could be more than one species from Ecuador which was sold as "nigricolor" in the pet trade.
Explanation and information on the chart.

P nigricolor bulb-Vergl-WZ.jpg

• c.h.esteban
• Mar 19, 2022

 

[antinous]

Just a note to the "nirgricolor-issue".
I´m afraid there could be more than one species from Ecuador which was sold as "nigricolor" in the pet trade.
Explanation and information on the chart.

P nigricolor bulb-Vergl-WZ.jpg

• c.h.esteban
• Mar 19, 2022

Ah that’s what I suspected. Various Ecuadorian species labeled haphazardly as nigricolor. Thanks for chiming in! Do you mind if I save that chart?

 

[AphonopelmaTX]

The tree, or folio, pattern on spiderlings of some Pamphobeteus species interests me so I'm going to throw out some questions and hope someone can answer them.

Does it appear only on Pamphobeteus species located in Ecuador?
Is the tree pattern an indication of a species group differing in other ways from other Pamphobeteus species across South America?
Does the tree pattern completely disappear in adult males and/ or females or is it still present but faded and/ or hidden in the abdominal hairs?

 

[c.h.esteban]

Do you mind if I save that chart?

No problem.

Does it appear only on Pamphobeteus species located in Ecuador?

1) No, there is also a report for Panama (Bullmer M. et al. (2007): Erstnachweis der Gattung Pamphobeteus POCOCK, 1901 in Panama (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Theraphosidae: Theraphosinae). - Arthropoda 14(3/4): 35 - 38.).

Is the tree pattern an indication of a species group differing in other ways from other Pamphobeteus species across South America?

2) They show a very similar basic structur in the bulb morphology.

Does the tree pattern completely disappear in adult males and/ or females or is it still present but faded and/ or hidden in the abdominal hairs?

3) It remains in older females of Pamphobeteus spp. from NW-Ecuador as a darker area than the surronding setae.

 

[c.h.esteban]

3) It remains in older females of Pamphobeteus spp. from NW-Ecuador as a darker area than the surronding setae.

...and this is how it looks like.
P. sp. ESMERALDAS 9 years old, 10 months after last moult