THE GENUS PHORMICTOPUS AND ITS HOBBY NOMENCLATURE
MARIA GOMBASNE GUDENUS, LASZLO GOMBAS AND LASZLO “DUDU” GUDENUS
INTRODUCTION differences were seen not only in diversity Journal of the British Tarantula Society 31(1) of colour, shape, and body composition, but included our article on breeding also in female spermathecae and mature Phormictopus sp. “green (gold carapace)”. male palpal bulbs. As a continuation, we wanted to introduce readers to what we believe are three We have been completely enamoured with distinct types of “green” Phormictopus. all of the members of Phormictopus for These three different types are marketed quite some time. Many are beautifully using several names, but nobody in the coloured and most are very large spiders. It hobby has separated them into three also is very easy and enjoyable to keep groups. However, as we began writing this them in the terrarium. With few exceptions, article, we quickly realised that the captive bred young (i.e., spiderlings) eat identification and names of the different well and grow at a good rate. We began to types of “green” Phormictopus is not the keep and breed Phormictopus in 2009. only nomenclatural problem with the Initially we had only a few specimens, but genus. We decided that we would also have soon acquired many more in a short period to discuss other forms of hobby of time. As we expanded our collection Phormictopus in an attempt to make over the last few years we tried to buy wild- everything clear. The scientific descriptions collected spiders and breed them. We of some Phormictopus species are vague, wanted to obtain unrelated stock and and the hobbyist interpretations of these acquire new species. descriptions are also full of errors. Herein, we will try to illustrate the problematic Purchasing our new spiders became very issues caused by the hobby names related problematic as we soon realized we were to the genus. buying the same spiders sold with different names, and also buying different types sold Before moving further, we want to using the same name. At the same time, we emphasise that we are not taxonomists were trying to locate and translate all and we did not make scientific examinations forum posts and scientific descriptions of our spiders. We describe only the visible regarding Phormictopus, but we were differences and our own observations were hindered by the fact that we are Hungarian compared to species descriptions. These and English isn’t our primary language. We
28 Journal of the British Tarantula Society 31(2), July 2016 sent numerous emails to Jan-Peter Rudloff, Cuban or non-Cuban origin. The Cuban a man who has worked on Phormictopus, species are very similar to each other and, but never received a reply. Our attempts to without exception, each lobe of the contact the few people who have worked spermathecae has a long, tapering neck for on the genus failed. sperm (Fig. 1A), whereas non-Cuban species have each lobe of the spermathecae with a Our observations are based on around 150- simple triangular shape (Fig. 1B). 200 adult specimens of Phormictopus, a Fig. 1A similar number of juveniles we have kept since 2009, and our breeding successes. We tried hard to acquire every form of Phormictopus available. During this period of time, we have bred nine species of the genus (twenty successful egg sacs). We still have juveniles and spiderlings from these breedings to grow. Twelve of the twenty successful breedings of Phormictopus occurred this year. We want to note again that we are not taxonomists, and this article is based not upon taxonomic Fig. 1B descriptions or examinations, but only our personal experiences and hypotheses. We will not discuss all fifteen members of the genus or all of its undescribed (hobby) forms, and instead focus only on the varieties we keep and where we have discovered identification and nomenclatural problems.
Before we introduce each species, we would like to state that, in theory, the genus Phormictopus may be separated into two groups: Cuban and non-Cuban species. These two groups have a clear separation with regards to visible attributes related to Phormictopus cancerides (Latreille, 1806) colour, size and habitus (body build). The offspring of the two groups also have We bought most of our Phormictopus under different colours. While Cuban species have the species name P. cancerides. Regardless brownish young, those found outside Cuba of whether the spiders displayed shades of are bluish. This is significant because it is a brown, blue, green, purple or pink, all were frequent occurrence within the hobby that sold as Phormictopus cancerides. The a Cuban variety receives a non-Cuban reported distribution of P. cancerides is name, and vice versa. Analysis of large and allegedly extends from the West spermathecae makes it clear if a spider is of Indies to Brazil, but solid reports only exist
Journal of the British Tarantula Society 31(2), July 2016 29 for Hispaniola (specifically Haiti and Phormictopus atrichomatus Schmidt, 1991 Dominican Republic). Some believe it also exists in Cuba. The colour of the adult This species is native to Hispaniola, but we female is brown, and the carapace and believe that they might occur over a much femur typically has a pink-purple sheen. larger area and Schmidt noted the species However, it is never yellowish (Fig. 2). The occurring in Honduras. We have purchased adult males are more colourful. They have a approximately forty females and males ground colour of brown with a distinct from a completely different area, and the pinkish-purple iridescence (Fig. 3). spiders are definitely P. atrichomatus. This species has a bronze-brown colour The cause of the most identification and superficially resembling P. cancerides, but nomenclature mistakes is when people after moulting they are much darker and switch between the names P. cancerides can have a slight pinkish sheen. However, and P. atrichomatus, even though actual P. they are never as colourful as P. cancerides. cancerides is larger, more robust and has This species is also often seen at reptile longer hair. The spermathecae between the shows as Phormictopus sp. "Haitian Brown". two species are very different (Fig. 4). All (Editor’s Note: When I started in the pet industry three varieties of “green” Phormictopus 35 years ago, the “Haitian Brown” was one of the have been marketed as “P. cancerides most commonly available pet trade species in green”. This name made us think, and it left America, and it became known to hobbyists as us with more and more questions whether “P. cancerides”. However, these typically did have there is a green variant of P. cancerides and, a distinct purplish iridescence and I am guessing if so, which 'type' of green it is. they were, in fact, P. cancerides despite the
Fig. 2
30 Journal of the British Tarantula Society 31(2), July 2016 Fig. 3
Fig. 4
common name that the authors associate with P. Despite the slight difference in habitus, to atrichomatus). We also bought many P. correctly identify P. cancerides or P. atrichomatus sold as P. cancerides despite atrichomatus you must check detailed the fact P. atrichomatus is somewhat anatomy, like the spermathecae. thinner than P. cancerides (Fig. 5). Upon first look, we may not be able to distinguish P. Phormictopus auratus Ortiz & Bertani, cancerides and P. atrichomatus from each 2005 other. It can be confusing. After moulting, P. atrichomatus appears similar to P. Again the problem here is that the name P. cancerides. By contrast, prior to moulting P. auratus has been frequently confused and cancerides is very similar to P. atrichomatus. applied in the pet trade to at least two
Journal of the British Tarantula Society 31(2), July 2016 31 Fig. 5
distinct species. It may be because both are male (Fig. 7) are stunning [Editor's Note: There found in Cuba, and that for a long time P. used to be a golden spider like this sold as auratus was sold as P. cubensis. In fact, 'Citharacanthus spinicrus' that was clearly when we bought our first P. auratus it was Phormictopus]. sold as P.cubensis. Also, sometime around 2008-2009 a Hungarian breeder sold P. Phormictopus bistriatus Rudloff, 2008 auratus offspring as P. cubensis. To add to the confusion, other people sell P. auratus Obtaining this species was a pleasant as P. platus. In recent years we have seen surprise. We bought our first P. bistriatus this many times. However, the name P. female and her 100 babies labelled as platus is dubious, and perhaps more Phormictopus schepanskii. We questioned suitable for specimens from Hispaniola, but the identification as soon as we received not Cuba. We do not know if the incorrect them. We exchanged email with our Swiss nomenclature is the result of ignorance or friend, Franzi, who also had doubts about is done intentionally for financial gain. the correct identification. In the end, it took Phormictopus auratus is a golden spider several months before we were able to and, in fact, its species name means “gold”. confirm the identity of our spider Fig.( 8) as The male and female are similar to each P. bistriatus, and not P. schepanskii. [Editor's other. There is no other species in the Note: Real P. bistriatus originate from around hobby that could be confused with this Santiago in Southern Cuba, whereas P. unique and beautiful golden spider. Both schepanskii are only know in the Northwestern the adult female (Fig. 6) and the mature zone]. We wrote to the breeder and, to his
32 Journal of the British Tarantula Society 31(2), July 2016 Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Journal of the British Tarantula Society 31(2), July 2016 33 Fig. 8
credit, he renamed his remaining spiders considered "P. cancerides centumfocensis" and sold them as P. bistriatus after that. We (a Cuban subspecies created by Franganillo, have never seen real P. schepanskii in the 1926) to be a synonym of the Cuban hobby. As with other Cuban species, the Phormictopus cautus. [Editor’s Note: Neither adult female is small, its eggs are very come from Dominican Republic and, as you may small, and the spiderlings are not bluish. know, tarantula taxonomy does not use the trinomial nomenclature (i.e., subspecies) found Phormictopus cautus (Ausserer, 1875) in other taxa]. There is also a purplish Phormictopus species in the hobby from This small, brown spider is native to the Dominican Republic. Fig. 9A and Fig 9B Western Cuba. Yes, it is brown, and not illustrate the female and male, purplish, violet or pink. This is true for both respecitively. It was never the same as the the male and the female despite a hobby true P. cautus, nor what was once known as misunderstanding dating back to 2005- “P. cancerides centumfocensis”. It cannot be 2006. Recently twenty to thirty adult P. cancerides, but also cannot be P. cautus females from the Dominican Republic due to its noticeably different entered the hobby under the name spermathecae. You can find a photo of the “Phormictopus cancerides centumfocensis”. real P. cautus spermathecae in Rudloff One female from this group of imported (2008). This is actually a compounded tarantulas was successfully bred in problem, because the spider we have called Hungary and the offspring were sold using "P. cautus" for ages, is not actually P. cautus. the same incorrect name. Rudloff (2008) The hobby spiders are not from Cuba, and
34 Journal of the British Tarantula Society 31(2), July 2016 Fig. 9A Fig. 9B
have none of the described features of the "violet", P. cancerides "blue", P. cancerides actual P. cautus. The question becomes: if sp. "purple", P. sp. "violet” or P. sp. this beautiful violet spider is not P. cautus "blue". There is a very blue Phormictopus then what should it be called? How can we tarantula in the hobby that results in solve this problem? If it was referred to as problems if we were to call the hobby “P. Phormictopus sp. "violet" (named for the cautus” using any names that refer to the colour), it would be confused with the P. colour blue. This blue Phormictopus is cancerides that is often sold as native to the Dominican Republic. We now Phormictopus sp. "violet". have several adult females after buying the first one in 2009. We have yet to see a male Unfortunately, we made the same mistake of this variety, but females are different when we bred this violet spider a few years than the violet spider (Fig. 12). The spider in ago. We already had doubt about the the hobby that most tarantula keepers spider’s identification since all of the know as P. cautus cannot be the species specific characteristics were completely described as P. cautus, but also cannot be P. different than those of P. cautus. Fig. 10 cancerides or any colour variant of P. compares the spermathecae of hobby P. cancerides. We therefore propose that cancerides and "P. cautus". Furthermore, hobbyists call this spider Phormictopus sp. this violet tarantula’s young are huge and "Dominican purple” (ex. hobby cautus). We bluish (Fig. 11). The truth is that we have won’t simply use a “sp. violet” name never seen actual P. cautus in the hobby. because many people already sell it as P. Still, we believe that the offspring of this cancerides "violet” or P. sp. "violet”. We feel Cuban species offspring would be small that “Dominican purple” adequately and not blue as is the case with other distinguishes it from P. cancerides. Cuban Phormictopus spiderlings.
There is yet another problem: these purple spiders are sold under many different names including P. cancerides, P. cancerides
Journal of the British Tarantula Society 31(2), July 2016 35 Fig. 10
Left: Phormictopus cancerides Above: hobby "Phormictopus cautus"
Fig. 11
Above:: hobby "Phormictopus cautus" spiderlings Bottom left and right: Phormictopus sp. "blue"; female and spermathecae
Fig. 12
36 Journal of the British Tarantula Society 31(2), July 2016 Phormictopus cubensis Chamberlin, 1917 cannot understand the confusion since P. auratus is found in Eastern Cuba but the P. Despite the fact that many tarantulas are platus locality is dubious–maybe the sold under this name, we believe that only Florida Islands, USA or an island of Haiti. a few true P. cubensis exist in the hobby. Rudloff wrote in the re-description that its The unique appearance of this Cuban name originated by the examination of two species of Phormictopus should not be juvenile males. He also states that this mistaken. Its colour is dark brown, almost spider is similar to P. auratus. Perhaps that black, and there are long red hairs on the is why people identify some P. auratus as P. abdomen. It produces numerous small platus. We are fairly confident that P. platus eggs and the spiderlings are brown not has never been in the hobby and shouldn’t blue! We bred this beautiful species in 2016 exist in the hobby at all. We are curious why (Fig. 13). those selling tarantulas as P. platus use that name. They likely bought them from Phormictopus platus Chamberlin, 1917 exporters labelled as Phormictopus platus. If P. platus is real, what is the difference The P. platus story is a really foggy one. The between it and P. auratus? If there is no most important thing to realise is that there difference in either appearance or is only one species selling as P. platus and it spermathecae, why sell them under two is actually Phormictopus auratus. We names? We believe that all hobby-stock
Fig. 13
Journal of the British Tarantula Society 31(2), July 2016 37 traded as “P. platus” are simply Fig. 14 Phormictopus auratus.
On the various things sold as Phormictopus sp. "green" – overall
In the last Journal issue we told how we acquired the green Phormictopus. After we bought many adult and juvenile “green”, we realised that even spiders from the same area (Dominican Republic, near Barahona) look different regardless if female or Phormictopus sp. "green" (gold carapace) male. We separated these spiders into three different types based on appearance Fig. 15 and spermathecae. Some say that the green Phormictopus is merely a green variant of P. cancerides. If we believed that, we would still have a question: which one of the three “greens” is the Phormictopus cancerides “green” (Fig. 14-16)?
Phormictopus sp. "green” (gold carapace)
There is a photo on the birdspiders.com website (Rick West) of Phormictopus sp. Phormictopus sp. "green femur" “green” (gold carapace), the same type we bred several years ago. West labelled the photo "Phormictopus cancerides “green”, Fig. 16 location: Dominican Republic". We disagree with West’s name since the spermathecae of the “green (gold carapace)” female (Fig. 17) is not even comparable to the spermathecae of P. cancerides. The habitus of the P. sp. "green” (gold carapace) is also different. It is much thinner than P. cancerides and has longer legs. The ground colour is blackish and the colour of the body hairs is also different. The carapace is gold and the legs are full green. We bred Phormictopus sp. "green" (full green) this species in 2013 and so far in 2016 we have had three more successful breedings.
38 Journal of the British Tarantula Society 31(2), July 2016 Phormictopus sp. “green femur" The carapace is light-yellowish in colour, and we have observed long red hairs on the We consider this to be among the most legs and abdomen. The male has the same interesting Phormictopus. This is due not colour after his ultimate (maturing) moult, only to its beautiful shape and colour, but although is maybe a little darker (see Fig. the naming confusion surrounding it. 21). Now, let us return to the Phormictopus Dealers sell this type as P. cancerides sp. "Hispaniola blue” name. The P. sp. "green "green”, P. sp. "Hispaniola blue”, and P. sp. femur” has an interesting feature. A juvenile "South Hispaniola". The story for us started specimen’s femur remains blue until the in January 2015. We bought many spider is approximately 4 cm (body size). Phormictopus sp. "green femur”. The seller After its next moult the blue colour noticed that Rudloff was still working on disappears, and the femur becomes green the Phormictopus genus, but he examined (Fig. 19). We have had three P. sp. "green this species with care. He decided to call femur" breedings this year. the spiders “Phormictopus erechsoni”. In 1841, C.L. Koch described P. cancerides as Phormictopus sp. "green” (full green) Mygale erichsonii (not erechsoni), Two weeks later the seller sent a message to us Since we discussed the green variant of P. that the "green femur” is not “erechsoni” cancerides, it would be logical to append after all, but instead is the real P. cancerides, “full green” to this third variety’s name as it and that we were one of that few lucky is the only fully green Phormictopus. people who can offer for the hobby for the Compare its spermathecae in Fig. 20. Our first time the real P. cancerides (what a largest specimen of Phormictopus is a “full miracle… it also became P. cancerides). We green” female. The ground colour is black, disagree. Just look at the spermathecae but the carapace and the legs are (Fig. 18). The “green femur” has a different completely green. The male has the same appearance than all other described colour as the female (see Fig. 21). The hair is Phormictopus species, and also is different not as long as seen in P. cancerides. In 2015, from the other two kinds of “green”. Its our Phormictopus sp. "green” (full green) green colour appears only on the femur. female took the prize for Best in Show at
Fig. 17 Fig. 18
Journal of the British Tarantula Society 31(2), July 2016 39 the BTS Exhibition. Her photo was on the Fig. 20 2015-2016 member-year membership card! We have had three breedings from this species this year.
"Phormictopus antillensis"
There is no valid Phormictopus species with this name, but we were fortunate to buy tarantulas erroneously sold as “Phormictopus antillensis” a few years ago that we have since found to be P. atrichomatus. (Editor’s Note: Perhaps these SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY are confused with Acanthoscurria Ausserer, A. 1875. Zweiter Beitrag zur Kenntniss der antillensis. The latter name is also used in Arachniden-Familie der Territelariae Thorell the pet trade to refer to a different spider (or (Mygalidae Autor). Verhandlungen der Kaiserlich- two!) [S. Longhorn, pers. comm.). Königlichen Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 25: 125-206 (p. 191). CONCLUSION Chamberlin, R. V. 1917. We think it is not too difficult to distinguish New spiders of the family the different species and hobby forms of Aviculariidae. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College 61: 25-75 Phormictopus. What is most important is (p. 59). that all dealers and hobbyists use the same name for each tarantula–even if it has only an invented name. It is very difficult to Franganillo Balboa, P. 1926 . Aracnidos nuevos poco accurately identify spiders from photos conocidos de la isla de Cuba. Boletin de la and dealers and hobbyists must be careful Sociedad Entomologica de Espana 9: 43-68. to avoid photo identification. Science and arachnoculture alike really need a complete GOMBáS, M. & L. 2016. Phormictopus sp. "green" – A revision of the genus Phormictopus, and we breeding report. Journal of the British Tarantula hope it will happen soon. Society 31(1): 15-18.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Latreille, P. A. 1806. Genera crustaceorum et We are grateful to Michael Jacobi for insectorum. Paris, tome 1, 302 p. (Araneae, p. rewriting this article from our translated 82-127). Hungarian language manuscript. Thanks to Stuart Longhorn for further revisions and Ortiz, D. & Bertani, R. 2005. A new species in the spider additions, and Guy Tansley for proofreading. genus Phormictopus (Theraphosidae: We also would like to thank our Swiss friend Theraphosinae) from Cuba. Revista Ibérica de Fränzi Leibbach who confirmed that our Aracnología 11: 29-36 (p. 30, f. 1-9). "schepanskii" are not P. schepanskii, and Thorsten Trapp who supplied our beautiful group of Phormictopus ‘green’.
40 Journal of the British Tarantula Society 31(2), July 2016 Rudloff, J.-P. 2008. Zur Kenntnis der Gattung Smith, A.M. 1987. Species file: Phormictopus Phormictopus Pocock, 1901 - einem cancerides (Latreille, 1806). Journal of the British Faunenelement der Grossen Antillen Tarantula Society 2(4): 8-13. (Mygalomorphae: Theraphosidae: Theraphosinae). Arthropoda 15(4): 2-51.
Schmidt, G. 1991. Eine neue Vogelspinne aus Honduras Phormictopus atrichomatus sp. n. (Araneida: Theraphosidae: Theraphosinae). Arachnologischer Anzeiger 11: 7-10.
ADDITIONAL IMAGES
Fig. 19
Comparison of juvenile Phormictopus sp. "green femur" before (left) and after (right) the moult that brings a colour change from a bluish femur to a greenish one
Fig. 21
Comparison of mature males: Left to right: Phormictopus sp. "green" (gold carapace), Phormictopus sp. "green femur", and Phormictopus sp. "green" (full green)
Journal of the British Tarantula Society 31(2), July 2016 41