Johnn
Arachnoknight
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- Aug 22, 2020
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Hey guys, just wondering which of these grows bigger and which is more venomous? Thank you
Phoneutria fera vs p. Nigriventer
- Thread starter Johnn
- Start date
- Joined
- May 7, 2005
- Messages
- 731
By analysis of bite accidents it "seems" P. nigriventer is the most venomous species of the genus. There are comparatively few well researched bite accidents caused by P. fera so both species (as the rest of the genus) need to be treated carefully.
Both species can grow extremely large and are the largest of the genus. Females of both can grow up to 2" body-length and up to 6" legspan. In captive bred specimens such sizes are very rare and also in wild-caught specimens this is far from "standard size".
It seems P. nigriventer may have regional variants showing subtle difference in basic color but strong difference in size. The P. nigriventer currently around in the hobby in the EU are among the smallest Phoneutria i've ever seen. Females matured out at 9 cm (less than 4") leg span. This is the same size (or even smaller) as captive bred P. boliviensis females. P. boliviensis however is the smallest species of the genus...
Two other aspects maybe worth mentioning wrt to your question: P. nigriventer is usually MUCH more skittish, nervous and defensive than P. fera. At least for the pet trade in the EU (i suspect the same for the U.S.) P. fera has become extremely rare or by now maybe even extinct in captive care. The were and still are for sale offers for this species, however it's next to always P. depilata that you'll get. The last valid offer of P. fera that i saw publicly announced here in the EU was end of 2021...
Be aware that P. fera and P. depilata look VERY similar. If you are dead-set on P. fera and don't know how to distinguish these two species i'd be very cautious to buy anything "blindly" of the market (this includes ALL "respectable" dealers, regardless if EU or U.S., they are generally good people but they don't know much about Phoneutria in general let alone how to ID different species by habitus).
Both species can grow extremely large and are the largest of the genus. Females of both can grow up to 2" body-length and up to 6" legspan. In captive bred specimens such sizes are very rare and also in wild-caught specimens this is far from "standard size".
It seems P. nigriventer may have regional variants showing subtle difference in basic color but strong difference in size. The P. nigriventer currently around in the hobby in the EU are among the smallest Phoneutria i've ever seen. Females matured out at 9 cm (less than 4") leg span. This is the same size (or even smaller) as captive bred P. boliviensis females. P. boliviensis however is the smallest species of the genus...
Two other aspects maybe worth mentioning wrt to your question: P. nigriventer is usually MUCH more skittish, nervous and defensive than P. fera. At least for the pet trade in the EU (i suspect the same for the U.S.) P. fera has become extremely rare or by now maybe even extinct in captive care. The were and still are for sale offers for this species, however it's next to always P. depilata that you'll get. The last valid offer of P. fera that i saw publicly announced here in the EU was end of 2021...
Be aware that P. fera and P. depilata look VERY similar. If you are dead-set on P. fera and don't know how to distinguish these two species i'd be very cautious to buy anything "blindly" of the market (this includes ALL "respectable" dealers, regardless if EU or U.S., they are generally good people but they don't know much about Phoneutria in general let alone how to ID different species by habitus).