Tarantulas of the World

Amazonicus germani (ex: hobby Psuedoclamoris gigas). Photo by: Tom Patterson

With the new year here, so comes a new revision of Tapinauchenius, Psalmopoeus, Psuedoclamoris including new genus description Amazonicus by Yeimi Cifuentes & Rogerio Bertani.

This extensive revision includes the transfer of Psuedoclamoris to the new genus Amazonicus. The new genus Amazonicus having 2 new described species (A.germani and A.giovanii). The genus Tapinauchenius which has shrunk from 9 species to 8. In addition to all of this, the genus Psalmopoeus also received a well needed revamp which now only consists of 9 species instead of 14.

So what does this all mean to you?

It means you get to relabel your collection to some extent*. Remember that this research paper is based on wild specimens and individuals and you should not rush renaming hobby specimens until more clarifications come out to public regarding certain hobby kept species. Listed below is a full breakdown:

Psalmopoeus:

Psalmopoeus intermedius is now a junior synonym of Psalmopoeus reduncus

Psalmopoeus copanensis is now a junior synonym of Psalmopoeus victori

Psalmopoeus sandersoni is now a junior synonym of Psalmopoeus victori

Psalmopoeus petenensis is now a junior synonym of Psalmopoeus victori

Psalmopoeus maya is now nomen dubium

Tapinauchenius:

Tapinauchenius violaceus is now a junior synonym of Tapinauchenius plumipes*

Tapinauchenius purpureus is now a junior synonym of Tapinauchenius plumipes*

Tapinauchenius concolor is now a junior synonym of Tapinauchenius plumipes*

Tapinauchenius gigas is now a junior synonym of Tapinauchenius plumipes*

*This pertains to wild specimens and individual holotypes and not what’s in the US/EU hobbies currently and should not be mixed up*

Psuedoclamoris:

Psuedoclamoris burgessi is now Amazonicus burgessi

Psuedoclamoris elenae is now Amazonicuz elenae

Amazonicus:

Amazonicus germani is a newly described species (known as hobby Psudoclamoris gigas)

Amazonicus giovanii is a newly described species  (not currently in the US/EU hobby)

Amazonicus burgessi was formerly Pseudoclamoris burgessi

Amazonicus elenae was formerly Psuedoclamoris elenae

The full research paperwork can be found: here

Tapinuachenius rasti by Tom Patterson

As 2018 is rolling to an end we find ourselves with another big taxonomic revision of a genus.  The genera of Tapinauchenius (Ausserer, 1871) as well as Psalmopoeus (Pocock, 1895) have never been reviews or revised before, even though new species have been described in recent years. (As early as 2014 by Jorge Mendoza – Psalmopoeus victori)

So what does this all mean to you?

Well…Quite a bit. Through extensive research Martin Hüsser, was able to revise and also re-describe the following tarantulas:

Tapinauchenius sp Colombia (A new species from the Amazon region) is now Pseudoclamoris burgessi

Tapinauchenius gigas is now Psuedoclamoris gigas

Tapinauchenius elenae is now Psuedoclamoris elenae

Tapinauchenius sp Union Island is now Tapinauchenius rasti

Tapinauchenius sanctivicenti is now Tapinauchenius polybotes

Tap subcaeruleus is now nomen dubium (meaning there is not enough accurate data to precisely describe or confirm this species)

In addition to all of this, the genera/Subfamily Psalmoponinae has been revised to include the following genus families; Ephebopus, Psalmopoeus, Psuedoclamoris and Tapinauchenius.

Why you ask?

The way Psalmponinae is diagnosed is based on molecular and morphological phylogenies. Which you can look at as a family tree where your great-grandparents are the same relatives as your distant cousins.

Though for some of you it may be annoying to have to remake labels and re-learn new nomenclature, its definitely the right thing to do. Taxonomy long ago was nowhere near as specific and precise as it is today. Hence why so much has been placed in the wrong genera or simply left undescribed. When a genus gets moved or changed to a new genus it just means it was never meant to be in that old genus to begin with. There has never been a better time to be part of the hobby.

Full revision article can be found here

THERE HAS BEEN AN UPDATE TO THIS REVISION FOUND HERE