Brachypelma
English
Genus Brachypelma Simon, 1891
Genus status. Including genus Euathlus Ausserer, 1875; Brachypelmides Schmidt & Krause, 1994. Brachypelma albiceps had been transfered from Aphonopelma (Locht et al., 2005)
Type species – Brachypelma emilia White, 1856. Type was lost. Eugene Simon, probably, based his genus description on specimens from Paris Museum of natural history, which he consider as «emilia», because of studied specimens had triangle mark on carapace, beinging typical feature noted by White in 1856 (it is necessary to take into account that at the end of years 1800 a principle of fixing of type specimens only began to used).
The difference of genus Brachypelma from other genera of subfamily Theraphosinae is concluded in presence of featherlike hairs on trochanter and lower surface of femur of leg I. Also femur of leg III is only slightly incrassate. Male embolus has denominated coniform, spoonlike form with keeled edge. Female spermathecae fused or herewith has pressing in the middle (B.klaasi, B.albiceps). A bunches of featherlike hairs on femur of leg IV are absent.
It is necessary also to notice that in spite of the fact that femur of leg III slightly incrassate, however herewith not so increased as at representatives of close related genus Megaphobema Pocock, 1901.
This is very popular and widespread in collections of amateurs of the World spiders many from which have in its colouration of red tone in spite of the fact that they are limited in legal sale or trade. Is a single genus of tarantulas listed in CITES, Appendix II, forbiding a trade of wild animales. (In late 2008 Indian representatives of the genus Poecilotheria were included into IUCN Red List).
However due to collectors, for instance B. smithi, is breeded in captivity in greater amounts, though in nature considering as exceedingly rare and endangered as a result of active agricultural activity, exterminate by local inhabitants, burning-out of ground and mastering the places their inhabits (is, alongside with B. emilia, a species, listed in 1996 in Mexican Red Book).
Keeping conditions. All species of genus Brachypelma is enough unpretentious in conditions, as a rule, not aggressive, but the majority of these tarantulas flick hairs from abdomen being disturbing, that mildly reduces their decorative effect.
These average to large in size terrestrial spiders reach 6-8 сm (body length) and 12-17 сm in leg span, due to keeping requirements are conditionally possible to divide into two basic groups:
1- species requiring smaller humidity (60%), which is reasonable to keep on mildly moistened or dry substratum with a large water bowl for drinking (absolute majority of mexican species), and
2- species requiring more increased humidity (about 75-85%). Under keeping this species in captivity (inhabiting the tropical forested areas of American continent) is required, both maintenance of humidity of a substratum, and presence of water bowl as well.
These tarantulas must be kept under the temperature 26-29°С. As a rule, do not need a retreat.
Most species (especially the Mexican ones) grow quite slow and reach maturity at 4-5 years and according some information at 7-10 years (Locht et al., 1999). However a spiders of second group grow quicker than their own xerophilous relatives.
Most species can be recommended to beginners.
Distribution. As a whole the distribution of species of genus Brachypelma is limited by territories of Central America with a localization center in Mexico. Herewith any confirmed data allows to spread an areal of genus to Southamerican countries is absent.
An interesting fact there was connected with finding in 1996 of natural population of Mexican redrump tarantula B. vagans (about 100 specimens of different ages) in citrus avenue in Saint-Lucy county, Fort Pierce, Florida * Discoveries are known and at present time.
|
Species |
Common name |
Areal |
Photo |
Biology, status |
Keeping conditions |
|
albiceps Pocock, 1903 |
Mexican golden redrump tarantula (not official) |
Mexico (Oaxaca) |
Photo Yu&A Labunsky © 2004
|
Former Brachypelmides species now has synonymized to the former Aphonopelma albiceps (see Systematic news). Still better known as B. ruhnaui (Schmidt, 1997) in hobby. Beautiful species, not often seen in hobby. Together with B. annitha and B. auratum the biggest representatives of the genus |
Keeping conditions of this species the same as B. smithi |
|
albopilosum Valerio, 1980 |
Curlyhair tarantula |
Cano Rito, Upala, Alajuela province, Costa Rica |
Photo Vlad Elbakjan © 2002
Photo S. Kotelkova & A. Ivanov © 2004
Photo A. Labunsky © 2004 |
Inhabits humid rain forests. This is, certainly, one of the most wide-spread, unpretentious and popular species at all. Produced in captivity in mass (but also a lot of hybrids), highly productive (400-1600 eggs in cocoon). |
Humidity must be provided at 80%, temperature - 26-28°С, water bowl is necessary. |
|
andrewi Schmidt, 1992 |
- |
Distribution is unknown (probably Mexico) |
- |
Supposedly is synonym of Aphonopelma truncata (Adjustment 11.168 to nomenclature of species, enclosed in CITES). |
Any keeping data is absent |
|
angustum Valerio, 1980 |
Costarican redrump tarantula |
Mexico; San Pedro de Arenal, Alajuela prov., Costa Rica |
Photo Guy Tansley©
Photo Kelly Swift© 2003 |
Inhabits humid rain forests. Heavy bodied, robust tarantula reaching 12-13 cm in legspan, not such calm as other related species. Enough difficult in breeding and keeping. |
Need 70-80% of humidity, temperature about 26-29°С, not big layer of substratum and also can be provided with a retreat. |
|
annitha Tesmoingt, Cleton & Verdez, 1997 |
Giant orange-knee tarantula (not official) |
Mexico |
Photo Vlad Elbakjan © 2002
Photo A. Labunsky © 2004
|
Seldom seen in collections but several breedings had happened. |
Keeping conditions of this species the same as B. smithi, with which it can be confused |
|
auratum Schmidt, 1992 |
Mexican fire-knee tarantula |
Guerrero and Michoacan states, Mexico |
Photo Yu&A Labunsky © 2004
Photo © Ian Metcalfe |
Also colorful and popular pet-tarantula. |
Keeping conditions of this species the same as B. smithi |
|
aureoceps Chamberlin, 1917 |
Florid golden chestnut tarantula |
USA (Florida) |
- |
This species was described on single female species and probably the type locality (Tortuga Island, Florida) is specified wrongly. At present time any new information about its habitat and findings are not known. |
Any keeping data is absent |
|
baumgarteni Smith, 1993 |
Mexican orange beauty tarantula |
Guerrero and Michoacan states, Mexico |
Photo Phil Messenger©
Photo James Clugston©
Photo Leon Lane© 2004 |
Beautifully colored tarantula being a decoration of any collection. Regrettably while it is extremely seldom bred in captivity (only two proven cases are known)Status of persisting taxon definitively is not determined – some authors consider its a hybrid between B. smithi and B. boehmei |
Keeping conditions of this species the same as B. smithi |
|
boehmei Schmidt & Klaas, 1993 |
Mexican rustleg tarantula |
Guerrero state, Mexico |
Photo Vlad Elbakjan © 2002
Photo Ian Metcalfe © 2003
Photo CHID © 2004 |
One of the most beautiful and colorful spider in hobby. The popular species alongside with B. smithi and B. emilia and also not difficult in keeping |
Keeping conditions of this species the same as B. smithi |
|
embrithes Chamberlin & Ivie, 1936 |
- |
Panama |
- |
Information about biology not known |
Any keeping data is absent |
|
emilia White, 1856 |
Mexican redleg tarantula |
Мексика |
Photo S. Kotelkova & A. Ivanov © 2004
Photo James Clugston © 2004 |
Alongside with B. smithi and B. boehmei are very popular. Not aggressive and calm spider. |
Keeping conditions of this species the same as B. smithi, However humidity level should be a little bit lower |
|
epicureanum Chamberlin, 1925 |
Yucatan rustrump tarantula |
Mexico (Yucatan) |
Photo © M. Bagaturov, 2007
Photo © Emmanuel Goyer, 2006 |
Very similar to B. vagans in appearance and occures sympathrically, but smaller in size. Inhabiting seasonal and rainforested areas |
Can be kept at the same conditions as B. vagans |
|
fossorium Valerio, 1980 |
Costarican rustbrown tarantula |
Guanacaste province, Costa Rica |
Photo John Hoke© |
Inhabits humid rain forests. |
Any keeping data is absent |
|
hamorii Tesmoingt, Cleton & Verdez, 1997 |
- |
Mexico |
- |
Some authors consider it as well as B. annitha, a color form of B. smithi (Adjustment 11.168 to nomenclature of species included in CITES) |
Keeping conditions of this species the same as B. smithi |
|
kahlenbergi, Rudloff, 2008
|
Veracruz, Mexico |
from haarigeachtbeiner.de |
Small sized species, described recently from the specimens come in hobby without reviewing the "vagans-group" species complex |
Keeping conditions of this species the same as B. smithi |
|
|
klaasi (Schmidt & Krause, 1994) |
Mexican pink tarantula |
North of Acapulco, Mexico |
Photo Phil Messenger©
Photo Eddy Hijmensen© 2004 |
Former Brachypelmides species. |
Keeping conditions of this species the same as B. smithi |
|
sabulosum (F. O. P.-Cambridge, 1897) |
Guatemalan redrump tarantula |
Tikan, Petel, Guatemala |
- |
Inhabiting rain forests. Very similar to B. vagans and can be confused with this species as well |
Keeping conditions of this species the same as B. albopilosum |
|
smithi (F. O. P.-Cambridge, 1897) |
Mexican redknee tarantula |
Мексика |
Photo CHID© |
Probably the most popular and the first one species of tarantula in the World entering the hobby. |
Can be kept under 60-75% of humidity and temperature 26-28°С. Calm species, does not demand a retreat though in a nature lives in deep holes |
|
schroederi Rudloff, 2003 |
- |
Mexico |
Photo Eddy Hijmensen© |
Discharged and described by Jan-Peter Rudloff from specimens misidentified as Brachypelma vagans from Mexico long time kept in collections. Named after Dr. Schroeder |
Keeping conditions of this species the same as B. vagans |
|
vagans (Ausserer , 1875) |
Mexican redrump tarantula |
Mexico, Central America, Belize |
Photo M.Bagaturov © 2003
Photo Vlad Elbakjan © 2002
Photo A. Labunsky © 2004
Photo Martin Stone © |
ccupies the diversified biotopes: savannahs, lowlands (Yucatan), rainforests. Reaches to 16 сm in leg span. Lives more than 15 years. |
Requires more increased humidity (70-80%) than B. emilia and temperature about 24-28°С |
|
verdezi Schmidt, 2003 |
- |
Mexico (Guerrero) |
Photo Guy Tansley© |
Formerly known in hobby as Named after the famous French arachnologist Jean-Michael Verdez |
Can be kept at the same conditions as B. vagans |
*By: G.B. Edwards & K.L. Hibbard. The Mexican Redrump, Brachypelma vagans (Aranea: Theraphosidae), an exotic tarantula established in Florida. Entomology Circular No. 394, May/June 1999