A new iridescent tarantula of the genus Thrigmopoeus Pocock, 1899 from Western Ghats, India

Rajesh V Sanap; Zeeshan A Mirza

doi:10.1016/j.crvi.2014.06.003

A new iridescent tarantula of the genus Thrigmopoeus Pocock, 1899 from Western Ghats, India

C R Biol. 2014 Jul-Aug;337(7-8):480-6. doi: 10.1016/j.crvi.2014.06.003. Epub 2014 Jul 14.

Authors

Rajesh V Sanap¹, Zeeshan A Mirza²

Affiliations

¹ National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Karnataka, Bangalore 560065, India.
² National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Karnataka, Bangalore 560065, India. Electronic address: snakeszeeshan@gmail.com.

PMID: 25103834
DOI: 10.1016/j.crvi.2014.06.003

Abstract

A distinctive new species of ground burrowing tarantula from Western Ghats endemic genus Thrigmopoeus is described from Kerala State, India. Thrigmopoeus psychedelicus sp. nov. differs from putative species of the genus in the adults being black overall with a metallic blue lustre on the carapace and abdomen. Females of Thrigmopoeus psychedelicus sp. nov. exhibit polychromatism. Juveniles and sub-adults are paler with vibrant maroon colouration on its abdomen whereas adult females are much darker and lack vibrant colouration as sub-adults.

Keywords: New species; Polychromatic; Spider; Tarantula; Theraphosidae.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Classification
Color
Female
India
Male
Spiders / anatomy & histology
Spiders / classification
Spiders / physiology*