Yet ANOTHER Pulchra

[NMTs]

strict trade regulations are the reason why it’s not in the hobby right? Good or bad I don’t know enough about Brazil to comment about it .
Real shame because the forest is being cut down . I don’t think I’ve seen a picture of it.

Grammostola pulchra.

Brazilian black.

arachnoboards.com

 

[freedomisle]

I got yet another Brazilian Black. Ordered her online and she came perfectly healthy and she's an absolute sweetheart.

I've been growing up two G.pulchra females from 2cm slings. There has been no switching of colouration. They gradually darken as they go from sling to juvenile. Once they got their dark black colouration it never went. Even in premolt they are still very dark. I took a photo last night of one of them beginning a molt and you can see even in premolt they are very dark, image below - both photos taken with flash.

Could you have a different Grammostola, such as Grammostola anthracina rather than a Grammostola pulchra?

That's actually just weird lighting from my phone's flashlight :/

Can you reply with a few more photos - with natural light. Someone might be able to assist you with identifying what sp. of Grammostola you have - it's still a great Tarantula, but you deserve to know it's true scientific name.

 

[WizardTheSpinoMan]

Can you reply with a few more photos - with natural light. Someone might be able to assist you with identifying what sp. of Grammostola you have - it's still a great Tarantula, but you deserve to know it's true scientific name.

Alr here's a more normal pic

But no one as far as I know has ever proved that Grammostola quirogai is present in the hobby through a proper identification. Further, the recent redescription of G. pulchra describes the coloration of both males and females as brownish-black so the color brown isn't a good indicator of species. What really distinguishes these hobby G. pulchra- such as the one pictured here- from the actual G. pulchra found in Southern Brazil is the lack of long whitish/ yellowish hairs covering the body. Also, the redescription of G. pulchra elaborates that their comparison of the CO1 gene from the mitochondrial DNA of G. pulchra with that of G. quirogai and what is in GenBank as G. pulchra is a completely separate evolving lineage. This is a clue that there is a third species of black Grammostola that can be confused with G. quirogai and G. pulchra. It is fun to ponder if these hobby G. pulchra could be that mysterious species.

Yeah that's the same thing I've read. I assume I just got a brownish Pulchra, and I assume she'll probably turn black after her next molt? ...Maybe?

 

[cold blood]

@AphonopelmaTX good points...my assertion is indeed based purely on speculation...although it seems like it holds water, its certainly not a stone-cold verifiable fact. Thanks for the further clarification.

I do think it is clear though that there is another species that has become a puchra imposter in the hobby.

I've been growing up two G.pulchra females from 2cm slings. There has been no switching of colouration.

I have several as well and none of mine have ever turned brown either.

 

[AphonopelmaTX]

strict trade regulations are the reason why it’s not in the hobby right? Good or bad I don’t know enough about Brazil to comment about it .
Real shame because the forest is being cut down . I don’t think I’ve seen a picture of it.

I have no idea why G. pulchra isn't in the USA, but I think I will check some of my old tarantula care books to find out if anything like it ever did. Wildlife protection laws never seem to have stopped traders from getting anything out of Brazil before, so I'm sure that can't be the reason.

Yeah that's the same thing I've read. I assume I just got a brownish Pulchra, and I assume she'll probably turn black after her next molt? ...Maybe?

I will be brief here.

- Yes, you can expect that drab brown tarantula of your's to turn jet black after it molts. Whatever species they are, they are stunning! I have a large mature male and it just the handsomist boy in my collection!
- No, it is not a brown G. pulchra. The color isn't the give-away, it is the lack of whitish yellowish hairs covering the body that gives it away as something other than G. pulchra.
- I have no idea what species it is, but the color is not enough to determine it is G. quirogai or another species.
- Just keep the label as G. pulchra and don't worry too much about what species it really is.

@AphonopelmaTX good points...my assertion is indeed based purely on speculation...although it seems like it holds water, its certainly not a stone-cold verifiable fact. Thanks for the further clarification.

I do think it is clear though that there is another species that has become a puchra imposter in the hobby.

I have a mature male of this "pulchra" species I bought with the purpose of trying to determine if it is really G. quirogai since the species description of it is good. The only problem is that it seems to want to live forever! LOL

 

[juniperkisses440]

Congrats on your new T whoever it is!
I have both a pulchra and a quirogi sling and I have no idea who they are tbh. They look and molt different. I will see who I end up with when they mature Regardless you've got a beautiful T!