Tarantulas of the World

Selenocosmia zhangzhengi

A new species of the genus Selenocosmia (Ausserer, 1871) has been described in the southeastern coast of China. Selenocosmia zhangzhengi named after Mr. Zheng Zhang who collected the type material in situ (Fujian providence).

Description:

Males of S.zhangzhengi sp. n. can be distinguished by the absence of long, white setae on the tibia and metatarsus of the legs , the tip of the embolus is at an obtuse angle in S.zhangzhengi and small ventral lamina are absent on the distal embolus which differentiates it as a new sp altogether.

Females of S.zhangzhengi sp. n. can be differentiated by the straight spermathecae and the ratio of the length of the spermathecae to the distance between the spermathecae as it’s almost 2–3:1.

Ecology/Habitat:

Retreats in burrows made in soil mixed with gravel, the burrows are usually about 3 to 4 cm in diameter. The spider web extends 10 to 20 cm inwards from the burrow. The spider moults inside. At night, the spider waits at the mouth of the burrow for its prey to pass by.

As things are settling back to some sort of normalcy, there will be more and more revisions and descriptions happening in the arachnid world. Taxonomists are working hard around the world and it shows as more and more papers come out to the public. As always, when in doubt do not mix hobby species and labels with taxonomy paperwork.

Full paper can be read here

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