The Genus Phormictopus and Its Hobby Nomenclature
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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.