Haplopelma

''Cyriopagopus'' is a genus of southeast Asian tarantulas found from Myanmar to the Philippines. , the genus includes species formerly placed in ''Haplopelma''. It was first described by Eugène Louis Simon'' females have a total body length, including chelicerae, up to , with the longest leg, the first, being about long. The carapace (upper surface of the cephalothorax) is generally dark brown. They have eight eyes grouped on a distinctly raised portion of the cephalothorax, forming a "tubercle". The forward-facing (prolateral) sides of the maxillae have "thorns", which act as a stridulating organ. The first leg is usually the longest, followed by the fourth, second, and third. Mature females have an M-shaped spermatheca. Mature males have a spur on the forward-facing sides of the tibiae of the first pair of legs and a pear-shaped palpal bulb with a wide, curved embolus.

Taxonomy

The nomenclature of a group of theraphosid genera from South and Southeast Asia, including ''Cyriopagopus'', ''Haplopelma'', '' Lampropelma'', '' Omothymus'', and '' Phormingochilus'', is somewhat confused. The status of the genera has changed several times recently, and species have been moved from one genus to another. Currently, ''Haplopelma'' is considered to be a junior synonym of ''Cyriopagopus'', and ''Melopoeus'' of ''Haplopelma'', hence of ''Cyriopagopus'', but this may change.

The genus ''Cyriopagopus'' was erected by Eugène Simon in 1887 for the species ''Cyriopagopus paganus'' from Burma. In 1985, Robert Raven made ''Cyriopagopus'' the senior synonym of ''Melognathus'' Chamberlin, 1917. In 1890, Tamerlan Thorell described a species of spider under the name ''Selenocosmia doriae''. In 1892,
Eugène Simon decided that this species was sufficiently different from others placed in the genus ''Selenocosmia'' to warrant a new genus, ''Haplopelma'', with one species, ''Haplopelma doriae''. Raven in 1985 also decided that ''Haplopelma'' was the senior synonym of ''Melopoeus'' Pocock, 1895. A. M. Smith studied the type specimen of ''Cyriopagopus paganus'' (the type species of ''Cyriopagopus'') and decided that it had the key characteristics of ''Haplopelma'', making ''Cyriopagopus'' the senior synonym of ''Haplopelma''. This analysis is accepted by the World Spider Catalog , with the comment that "''Haplopelma'', ''Cyriopagopus'', ''Melopoeus'', and other ornithoctonine genera are in urgent need of revision".

Distribution and habitat

The genus is found in Southeast Asia (China, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore), Borneo, and the Philippines. Species that have been studied live in underground, silk-lined tubes, often with a surrounding web of radiating signal threads. They may be found in small colonies at the base of trees or bamboos. Some species favour steep, south-facing slopes.

Toxicity

Like all Old World tarantulas, spiders in the genus ''Cyriopagopus'' lack the urticating hairs found in their New World counterparts, hence use biting as a primary means of both attack and defence. Some ''Cyriopagopus'' species are among those reported to have more toxic venom. Although bites may cause severe pain and a range of other effects, no fatalities are known. ''Cyriopagopus lividus'', '' C. hainanus'', and '' C. schmidti'' (under its synonym ''Selenocosmia huwena'') have had their venom characterized. The last two produce hainantoxins and huwentoxins, respectively. The large fangs can produce puncture wounds which are susceptible to bacterial infection if not treated properly.

Species

it contains nine species, found in Asia:
*''Cyriopagopus albostriatus'' (Simon, 1886) – Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia
*'' Cyriopagopus doriae'' ( Thorell, 1890) – Malaysia ( Borneo)
*''Cyriopagopus hainanus'' (Liang, Peng, Huang & Chen, 1999) – China
*''Cyriopagopus lividus'' (Smith, 1996) – Myanmar, Thailand
*'' Cyriopagopus longipes'' (von Wirth & Striffler, 2005) – Thailand, Laos, Cambodia (Vietnam Tiger)
*''Cyriopagopus minax'' (Thorell, 1897) – Myanmar, Thailand (Thailand Black)
*''Cyriopagopus paganus'' Simon, 1887 (type) – Myanmar
*''Cyriopagopus schmidti'' (von Wirth, 1991) – China, Vietnam
*'' Cyriopagopus vonwirthi'' (Schmidt, 2005) – Southeast Asia

In synonymy

*''C. huwenus'' (Wang, Peng & Xie, 1993) = ''Cyriopagopus schmidti'' (von Wirth, 1991)

Transferred to other genera

* ''Cyriopagopus dromeus'' (Chamberlin, 1917) → '' Melognathus dromeus''
* ''Cyriopagopus schioedtei'' (Thorell, 1891) → ''Omothymus schioedtei''
* ''Cyriopagopus thorelli'' (Simon, 1901) → ''Omothymus schioedtei''

Nomen Dubia

* ''Cyriopagopus robustus'' (Strand, 1907) - Singapore
* ''Cyriopagopus salangensis'' (Strand, 1907) - Malaysia

See also

* List of Theraphosidae species

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1915392

Theraphosidae
Theraphosidae genera
Spiders of Asia