My Australian T

[PhilK]

I don't know the species of this girl (I assume). If anyone could give me a tentative ID..? Hope you enjoy the photos (they aren't nearly as good as most on here). There are set-up shots and T shots..
Phil

 

[P. Novak]

Gorgeous T! You may be jealous of our Ts, but we are definately jealous of the Ts you guys get there. I would contact Steve Nunn for an identification of your T; he's an Aussie T expert.

 

[PhilK]

Yeah she's gorgeous, but you never see her 'cause she buries herself!!! I can't wait to expand my tarantula collection (only have this one so far) because I do love our Aussie fellas. Love their badarse attitude, too.

 

[P. Novak]

Yeah she's gorgeous, but you never see her 'cause she buries herself!!! I can't wait to expand my tarantula collection (only have this one so far) because I do love our Aussie fellas. Love their badarse attitude, too.

Haha, yea I hear they are quite defensive! I would love to get my hands on one! Nothing like a big mean T! How big is your girl?

 

[PhilK]

She's not really all that big.. Probably 10cm from nose to tip? I haven't measured her..
Here are some shots that show off the famous attitude!

 

[PhilK]

And this is her settled into the hole in the rock

 

[Tropical T's]

Hi,
Steve is the best to id them but here are some tips
The genus Selenotholus has front legs that are generally thicker and longer than the back (leg 4) and the hairs on the metatarsus (second segment from the tip) of leg four are not at right angles to the leg.
Selenotypus has the rear legs thicker and longer than the front and the hairs on the tibia are at 90 degrees to the metatarsus.
Information as to where she came from would help.
Cheers
Brendan

 

[PhilK]

Hi,
Steve is the best to id them but here are some tips
The genus Selenotholus has front legs that are generally thicker and longer than the back (leg 4) and the hairs on the metatarsus (second segment from the tip) of leg four are not at right angles to the leg.
Selenotypus has the rear legs thicker and longer than the front and the hairs on the tibia are at 90 degrees to the metatarsus.
Information as to where she came from would help.
Cheers
Brendan

Unfortunately she came from a petstore.. Is there a way I can contact Steve?

 

[Steve Nunn]

Hi Phil,
That's a Selenotholus sp. "GLENELVA", I'm about 95% sure. If you follow Brendan's key you can't go wrong, although not ALL Selenotypus spp. have leg IV setae "piloerect", or siting at a 90 angle to the leg.......most do However all have a larger and/or longer leg IV than leg I.

Cheers,
Steve

 

[PhilK]

Hi Phil,
That's a Selenotholus sp. "GLENELVA", I'm about 95% sure. If you follow Brendan's key you can't go wrong, although not ALL Selenotypus spp. have leg IV setae "piloerect", or siting at a 90 angle to the leg.......most do However all have a larger and/or longer leg IV than leg I.

Cheers,
Steve

Glenelva it is then! Thanks alot mate.
Out of interest, which of our Ts grows the biggest?

 

[Tropical T's]

Hi Steve,
What's the distinguishing feature of Glenelva?
I should get down to say g'day soon but I am in Burketown at the moment :wall:

 

[Steve Nunn]

Hi guys
Phil, the biggest on record right now is Phlogius/Selenocosmia crassipes, with Selenotypus plumipes also getting to massive sizes. Phlogius/Selenocosmia strenua is probably going to be the real monster though IMO I hear an Aussie (ATA VP) may in fact have a gravid female right now

Brendan,
I would give the guess based on the physical traits of the genus firstly, then what physical traits I know of in the species, combined with the probability of the species being collected. We know they have been collected now numerous times since I found them about 9 years ago, probably more than any other Selenotholus species (it's the one downside to writing informative articles on wild populations, collection always follows, just like the Florida B.vagans populations).

This spider does not correspond at all to the northern Selenotholus, who are a lot more colourful, but mostly, this specimen has an almost complete scopulation on met IV, I know of only 2 Selenotholus with that much, sp. WOODSTOCK/GOLD, and GLENELVA, and as you can tell, it isn't the WOODSTOCK Looking forward to catching up again mate, got some new jungles to rattle the bones

Cheers,
Steve

 

[PhilK]

I've never heard of Phlogius/Selenocosmia strenua.. wonder if I could ever get my hands on them...?
Forgive my ignorance here mate but what do you mean by 'almost complete scopulation on met IV' ..?

 

[Steve Nunn]

I've never heard of Phlogius/Selenocosmia strenua.. wonder if I could ever get my hands on them...?
Forgive my ignorance here mate but what do you mean by 'almost complete scopulation on met IV' ..?

Hi Phil,
Look under the second last and last section of the very back leg. That shiny/reflective, oily looking area is what I'm talking about These are the setae that help to stick to vertical surfaces. In many species it varies, and can be a good secondary tool for instant rough ID's, based on images alone. This applies to many theraphosids, not just the Aussie T's.

Oh yeah, pic of an adult P.strenua/strenuus (depending on eventual generic placement):

Steve

Cheers,
Steve

 

[PhilK]

Look at the venom droplets .... I must have one! Where do you get them from and how much would one set you back?

And thanks for the advice!