Pterinochilus

Pterinochilus murinus

Pterinochilus is a genus of tarantulas ( Theraphosidae ) from the subfamily Harpactirinae.

Features

The species of the genus Pterinochilus are about 4-6 cm body length rather small to medium sized tarantulas. They have a dorsal Abdominalzeichnung resembling a fishbone pattern consisting of horizontal stripes and spotty points. They are gray to brownish, with the exception of Pterinochilus murinus, which may have a brick-red color. The spiders are covered with dense hair on the entire body, but do not have stinging hairs. On the inner sides of the chelicerae each is a Scopula. The Scopula tarsi is undivided, as are the metatarsals, only on the fourth metatarsal is divided by a series of stiffened setae.

The spermathecae of females consists of two Receptacula seminis. In some species, including Pterinochilus lugardi, the spermathecae is provided externally with a lobed structure ( lobe ). The final segment of the posterior spinnerets is finger-shaped.

Habitat and behavior

The seven species of the genus Pterinochilus are common in Central Africa and East Africa. The spiders inhabit open grasslands. The animals are ground dwellers and dig burrows. The main activity is in the rainy season. They come out only in the evenings, at dusk.

Species of this genus

Reginald Innes Pocock 1897 erected the genus Pterinochilus to which he presented some tarantulas, which included previously to the genus Harpactira, including Pterinochilus chordatus. The type species of this genus is vorax Pterinochilus. In the same work Pocock also described Pterinochilus murinus as a new species, according to a copy that was found in Tanganyika.

Because of the variability of staining often color variants have been described as distinct species. By 2002, 23 species in the genus Pterinochilus had accumulated. During the Second World War in the fire of the State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart numerous type specimens of the naturalist beach were Embrik (1876-1953) have been lost, resulting in a revision difficult. Finally, in the Revisison the genus Pterinochilus by Richard C. Gallon Pterinochilus the species were reduced to six in 2002. Meanwhile, new species were described again.

• Pterinochilus alluaudi
• Pterinochilus chordatus
• Pterinochilus leetzi
• Pterinochilus lugardi
• Pterinochilus murinus
• Pterinochilus simoni
• Pterinochilus vorax