''Aphonopelma'' is a genus of tarantulas native to the

Americas The Americas, which are sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North and South America. The Americas make up most of the land in Earth's Western Hemisphere and comprise the New World. Along with th ...

. It includes nearly all the North American tarantula species north of Mexico and a considerable percentage of the tarantula species that range into Central America. Most are fairly large tarantulas with leg spans of 6 in (16 cm) or more. Like most New World tarantulas, all species of ''Aphonopelma'' have urticating hairs. Despite their fearsome appearance, these tarantulas are not harmful to humans and some species are popular in the pet trade. With about 90 species described so far, ''Aphonopelma'' comprises about 10% of the total number of described tarantula species. However, their taxonomy is poorly understood and species are difficult to tell apart, especially those that are brown or black without other pattern. Therefore, the actual number of species is unknown, with more species likely to be identified in the near future. In captivity, they are usually fed

cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striki ...

s; in the wild, they eat most insects, including crickets, grasshoppers, cockroaches, mantises, and beetles.

Taxonomy

The genus has a complicated taxonomic history. It was erected in 1901 by Reginald I. Pocock, when he split up ''Eurypelma'' (now '' Avicularia''), with the type species '' Eurypelma seemanni''. Pocock also separated off the genus ''Dugesiella''. Two more new genera were later distinguished from ''Aphonopelma'': ''Delopelma'' by Alexander Petrunkevitch in 1939 and ''Chaunopelma'' by Joseph C. Chamberlin in 1940. In 1985, Robert J. Raven reviewed mygalomorph genera and considered the differences among all these genera to be insignificant. He synonymized them under the name ''Rhechostica'', which had been published by

Eugène Simon Eugène Louis Simon (; 30 April 1848 – 17 November 1924) was a French naturalist who worked particularly on insects and spiders, but also on birds and plants. He is by far the most prolific spider taxonomist in history, describing over 4, ...

in 1892, so had priority. Since the name ''Aphonopelma'' was much better known than ''Rechostica'', the

International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) is an organization dedicated to "achieving stability and sense in the scientific naming of animals". Founded in 1895, it currently comprises 26 commissioners from 20 countries. Orga ...

in 1991 agreed to give ''Aphonopelma'' precedence over ''Rhechostica''. In 1995, Smith erected the genus ''Apachepelma'' for the species '' A. paloma''; in 1997, Prentice transferred it back to ''Aphonopelma''. California ebony tarantula

Phylogeny

Molecular phylogenetic studies suggest that the genus is not

monophyletic In cladistics for a group of organisms, monophyly is the condition of being a clade—that is, a group of taxa composed only of a common ancestor (or more precisely an ancestral population) and all of its lineal descendants. Monophyletic gro ...

. Two groups of species are apparent: one from Central America, including the type species ''A. seemanni'' from Costa Rica, and another made up of species found in the United States. The relationship between the two groups and the genus '' Sericopelma'' is shown in the cladogram below. With further research, a new genus may be needed for the American group of species.

Species

, the World Spider Catalog accepted 59 species. A monograph of the genus within the United States, published in 2016, made some major revisions. Only 15 of the original 55 U.S. species were fully accepted, 33 were reduced to

synonyms A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are all ...

, and seven to''

nomina dubia In binomial nomenclature, a ''nomen dubium'' (Latin for "doubtful name", plural ''nomina dubia'') is a scientific name that is of unknown or doubtful application. Zoology In case of a ''nomen dubium'' it may be impossible to determine whether a s ...

'' (doubtful names). A further 14 new U.S. species were then described. *''

Aphonopelma anax ''Aphonopelma anax'', commonly known as the Texas tan tarantula, is a species of spider belonging to the family Theraphosidae native to southern Texas and northern Mexico. Description The species is one of the largest tarantulas found in the U ...

'' (Chamberlin, 1940) – United States, Mexico *''

Aphonopelma anitahoffmannae ''Aphonopelma anitahoffmannae'' is a species of spider in the family Theraphosidae, found in Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to ...

'' Locht, Medina, Rojo & Vázquez, 2005 – Mexico *''

Aphonopelma armada ''Aphonopelma armada'' is a species of spider in the family Theraphosidae Tarantulas comprise a group of large and often hairy spiders of the family Theraphosidae. , 1,040 species have been identified, with 156 genera. The term "tarantula ...

'' (Chamberlin, 1940) – United States *''

Aphonopelma atomicum ''Aphonopelma atomicum'' is a species of spiders in the family Theraphosidae, found in United States (California, Nevada). Like many New World tarantulas, they flick urticating hair Urticating hairs or urticating bristles are one of the primar ...

'' Hamilton, 2016 – United States *'' Aphonopelma bacadehuachi'' Hendrixson, 2019 – Mexico *'' Aphonopelma belindae'' Gabriel, 2011 – Panama *''

Aphonopelma bicoloratum ''Aphonopelma bicoloratum'' (also known as Mexican blood leg), is a species of spiders in the family Theraphosidae, found in Mexico.. As it common name aptly states it is found in Mexico, and was first described by Ronny Struchen, D. Brändle and ...

'' Struchen, Brändle & Schmidt, 1996 – Mexico *''

Aphonopelma burica ''Aphonopelma'' is a genus of tarantulas native to the Americas. It includes nearly all the North American tarantula species north of Mexico and a considerable percentage of the tarantula species that range into Central America. Most are fairly ...

'' Valerio, 1980 –

Costa Rica Costa Rica (, ; ; literally "Rich Coast"), officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( es, República de Costa Rica), is a country in the Central American region of North America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the no ...

*''

Aphonopelma caniceps ''Aphonopelma caniceps'' is a species of spider in the family Theraphosidae, found in Mexico. This species was first described as ''Eurypelma caniceps'' in 1891 by Eugène Simon, and was transferred to the genus, ''Aphonopelma ''Aphonopelma ...

'' (Simon, 1891) – Mexico *'' Aphonopelma catalina'' Hamilton, Hendrixson & Bond, 2016 – United States *''

Aphonopelma chalcodes ''Aphonopelma chalcodes'', commonly known as the western desert tarantula, Arizona blonde tarantula or Mexican blonde tarantula is a species of spider belonging to the family Theraphosidae. It has a limited distribution in the deserts of Arizona ...

'' Chamberlin, 1940 – United States *''

Aphonopelma chiricahua ''Aphonopelma chiricahua'' is a species of spiders in the family Theraphosidae, found in Arizona in the United States. References chiricahua Chiricahua ( ) is a band of Apache Native Americans. Based in the Southern Plains and Southwest ...

'' Hamilton, Hendrixson & Bond, 2016 – United States *''

Aphonopelma cookei ''Aphonopelma'' is a genus of tarantulas native to the Americas. It includes nearly all the North American tarantula species north of Mexico and a considerable percentage of the tarantula species that range into Central America. Most are fairly ...

'' Smith, 1995 – Mexico *'' Aphonopelma crinirufum'' (Valerio, 1980) –

*'' Aphonopelma crinitum'' (Pocock, 1901) – Mexico *'' Aphonopelma duplex'' (Chamberlin, 1925) – Mexico *'' Aphonopelma eustathes'' (Chamberlin, 1940) – Mexico *''

Aphonopelma eutylenum ''Aphonopelma eutylenum'', commonly called California ebony tarantula, is a species of spider in the family Theraphosidae Tarantulas comprise a group of large and often hairy spiders of the family Theraphosidae. , 1,040 species have been ...

'' Chamberlin, 1940 – United States *''

Aphonopelma gabeli ''Aphonopelma gabeli'' is a species of spider in the family Theraphosidae Tarantulas comprise a group of large and often hairy spiders of the family Theraphosidae. , 1,040 species have been identified, with 156 genera. The term "tarantula ...

'' Smith, 1995 – United States *'' Aphonopelma geotoma'' (Chamberlin, 1937) – Mexico *'' Aphonopelma gertschi'' Smith, 1995 – Mexico *'' Aphonopelma griseum'' Chamberlin, 1940 – Mexico *'' Aphonopelma hageni'' (Strand, 1906) – Mexico *'' Aphonopelma helluo'' (Simon, 1891) – Mexico *''

Aphonopelma hentzi The Texas brown tarantula, also known as Oklahoma brown tarantula or Missouri tarantula (''Aphonopelma hentzi''), is one of the most common species of tarantula living in the Southern United States today. Texas brown tarantulas can grow to leg ...

'' (Girard, 1852) – United States *'' Aphonopelma hesperum'' (Chamberlin, 1917) – Mexico *'' Aphonopelma icenoglei'' Hamilton, Hendrixson & Bond, 2016 – United States *'' Aphonopelma iodius'' (Chamberlin & Ivie, 1939) – United States *'' Aphonopelma johnnycashi'' Hamilton, 2016 – United States *''

Aphonopelma joshua ''Aphonopelma joshua'' is a species of spider in the family Theraphosidae, found in United States (California). References joshua Joshua () or Yehoshua ( ''Yəhōšuaʿ'', Tiberian: ''Yŏhōšuaʿ,'' lit. 'Yahweh is salvation') ''Yē ...

'' Prentice, 1997 – United States *'' Aphonopelma latens'' (Chamberlin, 1917) –

El Salvador El Salvador (; , meaning " The Saviour"), officially the Republic of El Salvador ( es, República de El Salvador), is a country in Central America. It is bordered on the northeast by Honduras, on the northwest by Guatemala, and on the south b ...

, Nicaragua *'' Aphonopelma levii'' Smith, 1995 – Mexico *''

Aphonopelma madera ''Aphonopelma madera'' is a species of spider Spiders ( order Araneae) are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, chelicerae with fangs generally able to inject venom, and spinnerets that extrude silk. They are the largest orde ...

'' Hamilton, Hendrixson & Bond, 2016 – United States *''

Aphonopelma mareki ''Aphonopelma mareki'' is a species of spider in the family Theraphosidae, found in United States (Arizona and New Mexico). References

Aphonopelma, mareki Spiders described in 2016 Spiders of the United States Natural history of Arizona ...

'' Hamilton, Hendrixson & Bond, 2016 – United States *'' Aphonopelma marxi'' (Simon, 1891) – United States *''

Aphonopelma moderatum ''Aphonopelma moderatum'' is a species of spider in the family Theraphosidae, found in United States, in the state of Texas. Commonly called the Rio Grande Gold Tarantula as they are found in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Description Femal ...

'' (Chamberlin & Ivie, 1939) – United States *''

Aphonopelma moellendorfi ''Aphonopelma moellendorfi'' is a species of spider in the family Theraphosidae Tarantulas comprise a group of large and often hairy spiders of the family Theraphosidae. , 1,040 species have been identified, with 156 genera. The term "tar ...

'' Hamilton, 2016 – United States *''

Aphonopelma mojave ''Aphonopelma mojave'' is a species of spider, in the family Theraphosidae (tarantulas). It is native to the Mojave Desert in Southern California Southern California (commonly shortened to SoCal) is a geographic and cultural region that gene ...

'' Prentice, 1997 – United States *'' Aphonopelma mooreae'' Smith, 1995 – Mexico *''

Aphonopelma nayaritum ''Aphonopelma'' is a genus of tarantulas native to the Americas. It includes nearly all the North American tarantula species north of Mexico and a considerable percentage of the tarantula species that range into Central America. Most are fairly ...

'' Chamberlin, 1940 – Mexico *''

Aphonopelma pallidum ''Aphonopelma pallidum'' is a tarantula of the family Theraphosidae found in Mexico. Commonly called the rose-grey, or Mexican rose, it is not available in the pet-trade. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, and undescribed species of Brachyp ...

'' (F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897) – Mexico *''

Aphonopelma paloma ''Aphonopelma paloma'', or the Paloma dwarf, is a species of spider belonging to the family Theraphosidae. Distribution and habitat The Paloma dwarf can be found in Southern Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) ...

'' Prentice, 1993 – United States *''

Aphonopelma parvum ''Aphonopelma parvum'' is a species of spiders in the family Theraphosidae Tarantulas comprise a group of large and often hairy spiders of the family Theraphosidae. , 1,040 species have been identified, with 156 genera. The term "tarantul ...

'' Hamilton, Hendrixson & Bond, 2016 – United States *'' Aphonopelma peloncillo'' Hamilton, Hendrixson & Bond, 2016 – United States *'' Aphonopelma phasmus'' Chamberlin, 1940 – United States *'' Aphonopelma platnicki'' Smith, 1995 – Mexico *'' Aphonopelma prenticei'' Hamilton, Hendrixson & Bond, 2016 – United States *'' Aphonopelma prosoicum'' Chamberlin, 1940 – Mexico *'' Aphonopelma ruedanum'' Chamberlin, 1940 – Mexico *'' Aphonopelma saguaro'' Hamilton, 2016 – United States *'' Aphonopelma sclerothrix'' (Valerio, 1980) –

*'' Aphonopelma seemanni'' (F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897) ( type species) – Central America *'' Aphonopelma serratum'' (Simon, 1891) – Mexico *''

Aphonopelma steindachneri ''Aphonopelma steindachneri'' is a species of spider in the family Theraphosidae Tarantulas comprise a group of large and often hairy spiders of the family Theraphosidae. , 1,040 species have been identified, with 156 genera. The term "ta ...

'' (Ausserer, 1875) – United States *''

Aphonopelma superstitionense ''Aphonopelma superstitionense'' is a species of spiders in the family Theraphosidae Tarantulas comprise a group of large and often hairy spiders of the family Theraphosidae. , 1,040 species have been identified, with 156 genera. The term ...

'' Hamilton, Hendrixson & Bond, 2016 – United States *'' Aphonopelma truncatum'' (F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897) – Mexico *''

Aphonopelma vorhiesi ''Aphonopelma vorhiesi'' is a species of spider in the family Theraphosidae Tarantulas comprise a group of large and often hairy spiders of the family Theraphosidae. , 1,040 species have been identified, with 156 genera. The term "tarantu ...

'' (Chamberlin & Ivie, 1939) – United States *''

Aphonopelma xanthochromum ''Aphonopelma'' is a genus of tarantulas native to the Americas. It includes nearly all the North American tarantula species north of Mexico and a considerable percentage of the tarantula species that range into Central America. Most are fairly ...

'' (Valerio, 1980) –

*''

Aphonopelma xwalxwal ''Aphonopelma xwalxwal'' is a species of spiders in the family Theraphosidae, found in United States (California). Etymology and pronunciation ''A. xwalxwal'' is pronounced like "''hwal-hwal''", with "hw" like the rasping noise of blowing out a ...

'' Hamilton, 2016 – United States

In synonymy

Nomina dubia In binomial nomenclature, a ''nomen dubium'' (Latin for "doubtful name", plural ''nomina dubia'') is a scientific name that is of unknown or doubtful application. Zoology In case of a ''nomen dubium'' it may be impossible to determine whether a s ...

Species transferred to other genera

Species names rejected in the 2016 monograph include

*''Aphonopelma apacheum'' Chamberlin, 1940 = ''A. chalcodes'' *''Aphonopelma arnoldi'' Smith, 1995 = ''A. armada'' *''Aphonopelma baergi'' Chamberlin, 1940, '' nom. dub.'' *''Aphonopelma behlei'' Chamberlin, 1940 = ''A. marxi'' *''Aphonopelma breenei'' Smith, 1995 = ''A. anax'' *''Aphonopelma brunnius'' Chamberlin, 1940 = ''A. iodius'' *''Aphonopelma chambersi'' Smith, 1995 = ''A. eutylenum'' *'' Aphonopelma chamberlini'' Smith, 1995 = ''A. iodius'' *''Aphonopelma clarki'' Smith, 1995 = ''A. hentzi'' *''Aphonopelma clarum'' Chamberlin, 1940 = ''A. eutylenum'' *''Aphonopelma coloradanum'' (Chamberlin, 1940) = ''A. hentzi'' *''Aphonopelma cratium'' Chamberlin, 1940, ''nom. dub.'' *''Aphonopelma cryptethum'' Chamberlin, 1940 = ''A. eutylenum'' *''Aphonopelma echinum'' (Chamberlin, 1940) = ''A. hentzi'' *''Aphonopelma gurleyi'' Smith, 1995 = ''A. hentzi'' *''Aphonopelma harlingenum'' (Chamberlin, 1940) = ''A. hentzi'' *''Aphonopelma heterops'' Chamberlin, 1940 = ''A. moderatum'' *''Aphonopelma iviei'' Smith, 1995 = ''A. iodius'' *''Aphonopelma jungi'' Smith, 1995 = ''A. vorhiesi'' *''Aphonopelma lithodomum'' Chamberlin, 1940 = ''A. iodius'' *''Aphonopelma minchi'' Smith, 1995 = ''A. chalcodes'' *''Aphonopelma mordax'' (Ausserer, 1871), ''nom. dub.'' *''Aphonopelma odelli'' Smith, 1995 = ''A. hentzi'' *''Aphonopelma phanum'' Chamberlin, 1940 = ''A. steindachneri'' *''Aphonopelma punzoi'' Smith, 1995 = ''A. vorhiesi'' *''Aphonopelma radinum'' (Chamberlin & Ivie, 1939), ''nom. dub.'' *''Aphonopelma reversum'' Chamberlin, 1940 = ''A. steindachneri'' *''Aphonopelma rothi'' Smith, 1995 = ''A. chalcodes'' *''Aphonopelma rusticum'' (Simon, 1891), ''nom. dub.'' *''Aphonopelma sandersoni'' Smith, 1995 = ''A. eutylenum'' *''Aphonopelma schmidti'' Smith, 1995 = ''A. chalcodes'' *''Aphonopelma smithi'' Smith, 1995 = ''A. iodius'' *''Aphonopelma stahnkei'' Smith, 1995 = ''A. chalcodes'' *''Aphonopelma texense'' (Simon, 1891), ''nom. dub.'' *''Aphonopelma vogelae'' Smith, 1995 = ''A. marxi'' *''Aphonopelma waconum'' (Chamberlin, 1940) = ''A. hentzi'' *''Aphonopelma wichitanum'' (Chamberlin, 1940) = ''A. hentzi'' *''Aphonopelma zionis'' Chamberlin, 1940 = ''A. iodius''

References

External links

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q137594 Spiders of North America Spiders of Central America Theraphosidae genera Taxa named by R. I. Pocock