Redescription and notes on the natural history of the arboreal tarantula Iridopelma seladonium (Araneae: Theraphosidae: Aviculariinae)

Autor(es)

Almeida-Silva, Lina M. ^[1] ; Camacho, Agustin ^[2] ; Brescovit, Antonio D. ^[1] ; Lucas, Sylvia M. ^[1] ; Brazil, Tania K. ^[3]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Inst Butantan, Lab Artropodes, BR-05503900 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biociencias, Dept Zool, Lab Herpetol, BR-05422970 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Bahia, Lab Anim Peconhentos, BR-40170115 Salvador, BA - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Revista Brasileira de Zoologia; v. 25, n. 4, p. 728-736, DEC 2008.
• Citações Web of Science: 1

Resumo

Iridopelma seladonium (C.L. Koch,1841) (Theraphosidae,Aviculariinae) is a very rare, colorful and small tarantula found in the Atlantic Rainforest in Bahia and Sergipe. The original description of this species was based on a single female and no illustrations of reproductive organs were presented. After we collected several specimens identified as I. seladonium, we decided to redescribe this species and discovered that the male, previously described as belonging to this species, was misidentified by MELLO LEITAO (1923). Thus, in this paper the male of I. seladonium is newly described and the reproductive organs of male and female are described and illustrated in detail. Notes on the behavior and natural history of L seladonium are presented based on the observation of live specimens in the field and in captivity. An immature of I, seladonium was observed constructing a hinged retreat with silk and little pieces of bark, a behavior not previously seen for other Aviculariinae. Two courtship events were observed and photographed, leg tapping and palpal drumming of the male on female's body and dorsum-ventral movements of the female's abdomen while the male was inserting the embolus were documented to Aviculariinae for the first time. The courtships and mating lasted almost two minutes. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 06/05453-0 - Revisão e análise cladística do gênero Goeldia Keyserling, 1891 (Araneae: Titanoecidae)
• Beneficiário: Lina Maria Almeida Silva
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Mestrado