Redescription of Avicularia taunayi and notes on its habitat and geographical distribution (Araneae: Theraphosidae: Aviculariinae)

Autor(es)

Bertani, Rogerio ^[1] ; Motta, Paulo Cesar ^[2]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Inst Butantan, Lab Especial Ecol & Evolucao, BR-05503900 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Brasilia, Dept Zool, BR-70910900 Brasilia, DF - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Zoologia; v. 30, n. 1, p. 107-114, FEB 2013.
• Citações Web of Science: 1

Resumo

We redescribe the poorly known tarantula species Avicularia taunayi (Mello-Leitão, 1920) and present information on its geographical distribution and habits. The spermatheca of the female is unusual for the genus: short, broad, with a median slight curvature and lobes on its basal, median and distal portions. The male resembles other Avicularia species but can be distinguished by the presence of a tibial apophysis on leg I in conjunction with legs I and IV having roughly the same length and the presence of pale rings on the distal femora, tibiae and metatarsi. Additionally, males and females have three pairs of light brown spots extending from the dorsum to the lateral region of the abdomen. Avicularia taunayi is found in the Brazilian Cerrado, a savannah-like biome. It is one of the aviculariine species with the southernmost distribution, reaching as far South as the Tropic of Capricorn. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 03/12587-4 - Sistemática e zoogeografia de aranhas terafosídeas neotropicais (Araneae, Mygalomorphae, Theraphosidae)
• Beneficiário: Rogerio Bertani
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular