ID differences between Euathlus sp. "Green" and sp. "Blue"?

[Odyssey]

I have recently bought a SA Euathlus sp. It was sold to the previous owner as a sp. "Blue", but he felt it was a sp. "Green". I'm not particularly disappointed either way, but I would like to have a go at breeding some of my Ts in the next few months, so working out a correct ID is really important to me. As I am a "newbie", could someone put the differences into layman's terms for me? It looks to be in premoult anyway so I could have a moult to examine soon, which as I bought him/her as unsexed will be exciting to look at. He/she is about 4.5" now. If anyone has any descriptive ID pointers, pics or spermathecae photos that display a difference, I would much appreciate them. Thanks!

 

[alpine]

If you are unsure in no uncertain terms of the exact species of the T you should not breed it. Because if you are wrong (or the people here are wrong) then you will have hybrids that would mess up the Euathlus Genus and make it more difficult for people to breed in the future... I think you should just enjoy this guy as a cool pet rather than breeding stock.

That being said, if you want to make an attempt (I still wouldn't recommend getting your heart set on breeding him) at finding out what he might be then post a picture in normal lighting and with a flash and see what people can come up with. For all you know he could be a hybrid already. Good luck

 

[Odyssey]

Thanks, I wouldn't breed if I didn't have a decent idea of which it was. That said, it shouldn't be impossible to find out, there are a lot of these over here. It was sold by a reputable person to its previous owner as a blue. the previous owner didn't have it very long and it hasn't moulted for him. He only went on the greenish colouration for his hunch, but I have seen blues with green femurs and I wouldn't personally like to ID this off its current colouration. I have been told on FB tonight that it is still likely to be a blue. It is in premoult currently but here is a photo.

As you can see it is quite "dull" at the moment, hoping for a shed soon. Thanks for the help!

 

[Philth]

I hate to contribute to internet rumors that I cant confirm with my own stock, but I have heard they can change from blue to green / green to blue, within a molt, or when they mature. Maybe this is where the confusion comes from.:? I'm raising a few from spiderlings and I'm very curious how they will turn out.

Later, Tom

 

[ArachnidSentinl]

I hate to contribute to internet rumors that I cant confirm with my own stock, but I have heard they can change from blue to green / green to blue, within a molt, or when they mature. Maybe this is where the confusion comes from.:? I'm raising a few from spiderlings and I'm very curious how they will turn out.

This wouldn't surprise me, as I have a sling sold to me as a "blue" that has sort of a grey/green/blue mixed tint to it. Honestly, if I didn't know what it was sold to me as, I'd be left in the dark, I think.

 

[Formerphobe]

I hate to contribute to internet rumors that I cant confirm with my own stock, but I have heard they can change from blue to green / green to blue, within a molt, or when they mature. Maybe this is where the confusion comes from. I'm raising a few from spiderlings and I'm very curious how they will turn out.

I have two slings/juvies (~2.0") from a blue mother and a green father. Reportedly, the father was blue as a subadult and matured green. My two have yet to divulge their color(s) or sex.

 

[Odyssey]

Thanks everyone. Yes the previous owner was just going on femur and general "greenish" colour and because I had already read about these spiders changing from moult to moult I thought I had best come here and see if there were other differences that were more reliable to go on. To be fair he has very little metallic shine to his femurs at the moment, and has the typical brownish overcast of a premoult so time may tell. What metallic shin he does have can look bluish or green lol. He was definitely sold to the old owner as a blue. Given he only had him a matter of weeks, I wonder if the old owner would've believed differently had he seen him in his glory! By the way, I'm saying he but just because he is unsexed and it is less presumptious than jinxing myself calling the spider she lol. Roll on moult time!

 

[Scourge]

Going by the picture, I'll add another possible option.... Thrixopelma pruriens
Most of the sp blues and greens I have seen have had quite 'wooly' legs from the patella down.

 

[Odyssey]

More pics from today. I bought him in this enclosure but am changing him over today as the substrate seems a bit too damp for my liking.

Looking chunky lol

He doesn't look like the Thrixopelma pruriens I have met, but I am a novice so will leave it up to advice from others, especially after a moult!

---------- Post added 12-31-2012 at 02:15 PM ----------

OK having done a bit more googling, I have found spermathecae photos for Thrixopelma pruriens and Euathlus sp. "Blue". I will wait for a moult and update! xx

 

[catfishrod69]

That looks more like a Paraphysa species, but i could be wrong.

 

[Odyssey]

I don't know of a Paraphysa species that gets to his/her size? Measured today at 4.25"+, wasn't spread out and wouldn't sit still lol.

 

[Storm76]

I hate to contribute to internet rumors that I cant confirm with my own stock, but I have heard they can change from blue to green / green to blue, within a molt, or when they mature. Maybe this is where the confusion comes from.:? I'm raising a few from spiderlings and I'm very curious how they will turn out.

Later, Tom

As a rumor, I've heard this too, Tom. Certain people over here are working on a detailed overview of them, but as Stuart said in the other thread: The whole Euathlus "pulcherrimaklaasi" (or sp. "blue" / sp. "green" as they have been called lately) ubject is kinda unresolved so far and I'll agree to him that only Dr. Perez-Miles or Dr. Bertani could possibly shed some light on the -real- thing, since those WC from years ago, have most likely died out in the hobby over here at least already...

 

[Odyssey]

Is it likely then that these are going to end up being one species? Sorry for being a noob. x

 

[catfishrod69]

Im not sure. I didnt think Euathlus got that large either. Not up to date on them though. Ive got a small sp blue, and a female 2.5-3" sp red.

I don't know of a Paraphysa species that gets to his/her size? Measured today at 4.25"+, wasn't spread out and wouldn't sit still lol.

 

[Storm76]

Im not sure. I didnt think Euathlus got that large either. Not up to date on them though. Ive got a small sp blue, and a female 2.5-3" sp red.

My pulcherrimaklaasi / sp. "blue" / sp. "blue femur" is a sexed female with a 4.25" legspan.


As far as I remember, Stuart said something about these probably not being Euathlus spp. at all. Again, the only persons that are probably able to ID these for sure, are those mentioned above probably.

For the threadstarter, check this thread here for more info on the discussion => Click

 

[Odyssey]

Bit of an update, this spider has moulted as female and has dramatically changed in colouration, as expected to a degree. Still got a green metallic tinge to the carapace when the flash hits, but overall is now a black spider with a very subtle navy tinge, with creamy peach knee stripes. I have changed my mind about Thrixopelma, I am pretty sure we're onto something there. I had an offer of someone taking the moult to the BTS show for ID, but it didn't happen til just after. Typical timing! I would like to get a "proper" ID on her so am asking around now. If I can't then I will probably bob her up for sale as I'd like to focus on those I can have a go at breeding. I suspect she's Thrixopelma pruriens though after all.

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/0t15lwt4dm600jx/DtoFsDRjze

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/6ijldn5ia1ov553/G_MQEBDJpm

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/nvf06syxh1yixkt/KzlfplwWbf

 

[Odyssey]

A lovely gentleman over here in the UK tells me that the way to tell Thrixopelma pruriens from Euathlus sp. green is that T. pruriens have spikes on their back legs. I will check the moult in the morning but if anyone has any thoughts on this I'd appreciate it xx

 

[Storm76]

A lovely gentleman over here in the UK tells me that the way to tell Thrixopelma pruriens from Euathlus sp. green is that T. pruriens have spikes on their back legs. I will check the moult in the morning but if anyone has any thoughts on this I'd appreciate it xx

Haven't looked into the issue regarding T. pruriens too much yet, but from those pics, it doesn't look like E. "pulcherrimaklaasi" or E. sp. "green femur" to me at all..... I've been wrong before, though.

 

[brezo]

This is my euathlus truculentus

 

[Odyssey]

Lol that's one way to ID her, we can post photos of what she definitely isn't! Might take a while though, haha!

Not getting very far on finding someone to ID her properly from the moult so I think I will probably pass her on to someone else. Shame as I'd have liked to breed her.