New genus: Agnostopelma, with the description of two new species

[Zoltan]

This one looks interesting:

Pérez-Miles, F. & D. Weinmann. 2010. Agnostopelma: a new genus of tarantula without a scopula on leg IV (Araneae: Theraphosidae: Theraphosinae). The Journal of Arachnology 38: 104-112.

Abstract. The new genus Agnostopelma Pérez-Miles & Weinmann is proposed for the type species Agnostopelma tota n. sp. and Agnostopelma gardel n. sp. from Boyacá, Colombia. Agnostopelma build shelters under stones at high elevation. The new genus is unusual in lacking tarsal scopulae on its posterior legs and in having few labial cuspules and short leg tarsi in females.

Originally posted by Martin Huber @ http://www.thebts.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=6301

P.S. picture of Agnostopelma tota on Rick C. West's website: http://www.birdspiders.com/gallery/p.php?id=896

 

[Redneck]

Wow I like!! :drool:

 

[Mack&Cass]

Very interesting. They look dwarf-ish, are you at all aware of their max size, Zoltan?

Cass

 

[Julia]

Interesting!! What exactly is the color of this one? Looks to have a bit of a purple hue, but I know that flashes can be deceiving.

 

[robd]

Heh, agnostopelma. I wonder how they chose that name. I agree though, they do look kind of dwarf-ish.

 

[Moltar]

Couldn't remember my BTS password... the pic on birdspiders looks like somebody squeezed a whole L. parahybana into a smaller spider body.

 

[Zoltan]

To answer the questions, all answers are taken from the article:

Very interesting. They look dwarf-ish, are you at all aware of their max size, Zoltan?

Cass

According to the article, the holotype male's body is 17.9 mm (without chelicerae and spinnerets), the prosoma (cephalothorax) is 8.5 mm; first leg 28.9 mm, fourth leg 32.3 mm long. The same values for the female paratype are: 24.1 mm (full body length without chelicerae and spinnerets), 11.1 mm (prosoma length), 22.2 mm (first leg), 25.1 mm (fourth leg).

Interesting!! What exactly is the color of this one? Looks to have a bit of a purple hue, but I know that flashes can be deceiving.

A. tota: "Color: Cephalothorax, legs, and abdomen dorsally dark brown, ventrally lighter; longer hairs with lighter tips all over abdomen and legs."

Heh, agnostopelma. I wonder how they chose that name. I agree though, they do look kind of dwarf-ish.

Quote: Agnostopelma (neuter) is a composition of two Greek words: Agnostos, which means ‘‘unknown’’ and pelma, which means ‘‘sole of the foot.’’ The name makes reference to the absence of scopulae on leg IV of this tarantula, which is unusual in Theraphosidae.

Hope that satisfies your curiosity.

P.S. I have never seen a L. parahybana with an opisthosoma this round-shaped.

 

[PrimalTaunt]

To use a tired, and worn out phrase...

Baby got back!

 

[Moltar]

P.S. I have never seen a L. parahybana with an opisthosoma this round-shaped.

That's what I mean, it looks kind of like a "little person" version of an LP.

 

[crawltech]

...looks kinda like this....hmm

http://www.tarantulacanada.ca/English/English.htm

 

[Zoltan]

...looks kinda like this....hmm

http://www.tarantulacanada.ca/English/English.htm

Do you mean these?

http://www.tarantulacanada.ca/gallery/images/789.php
http://www.tarantulacanada.ca/gallery/images/788.php

Those are Agnostopelma tota, the pictures on TarCan and in the article are indentical.

 

[crawltech]

Ahh...sorry for the incomplete link:wall:.....my bad, but yes, i mean those....are they one in the same?, or a very close cuz

 

[seanbond]

interesting lil spida

 

[tarcan]

Ahh...sorry for the incomplete link:wall:.....my bad, but yes, i mean those....are they one in the same?, or a very close cuz

Like Zoltan mentionned, they are the same, they used my pictures in the description paper.

It is a very strange species in behavior. From high elevation, they are ridiculously slow... they even kick hair in slow motion, very funny to see!

The reason my site has not been updated in ages is that we are in the process of putting our new site online and I have stopped adding pictures and changing names on the current one. Hopefully soon the new one will be available.

Martin

 

[Zoltan]

Hey Martin,

I just noticed you are credited in the Acknowledgments section. Usually I see the copyright holder's name under the pictures in the legend.

 

[tarcan]

Hey Martin,

I just noticed you are credited in the Acknowledgments section. Usually I see the copyright holder's name under the pictures in the legend.

Zoltan, yes, no problem, there was no issue on my side in case my message was misinterpreted. I took these pictures when I visited Dirk a few years back and gave him the right to use any of them as he wishes.

Martin

 

[Zoltan]

Martin, I thought of no issue whatsoever, it's just first I thought you were given permission to use the photos and not the other way around, until I found your name in the acknowledgments.