''Plesiopelma'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of South American

tarantulas 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" is usually used to describe members of the family Theraphosidae, although m ...

that was first described by

Reginald Innes Pocock Reginald Innes Pocock F.R.S. (4 March 1863 – 9 August 1947) was a British zoologist. Pocock was born in Clifton, Bristol, the fourth son of Rev. Nicholas Pocock and Edith Prichard. He began showing interest in natural history at St. Edward ...

in 1901. ''Plesiopelma'' species are particularly abundant along mountainous ranges, frequently living under stones. Both males and females live in silk tubes under stones with aggregate spatial distribution. The walls of these tunnels are covered by waterproof silk, protecting them from floods. In addition, there is a uniform saturated microclimate inside the tunnel, which protects the spiders from dehydration.

Species

it contains eleven species, found in

Paraguay Paraguay (; ), officially the Republic of Paraguay ( es, República del Paraguay, links=no; gn, Tavakuairetã Paraguái, links=si), is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to th ...

Uruguay Uruguay (; ), officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay ( es, República Oriental del Uruguay), is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast; while bordering ...

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

Venezuela Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...

, and

Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...

: *''

Plesiopelma aspidosperma ''Plesiopelma'' is a genus of South American tarantulas that was first described by Reginald Innes Pocock in 1901. ''Plesiopelma'' species are particularly abundant along mountainous ranges, frequently living under stones. Both males and females l ...

'' Ferretti & Barneche, 2013 –

*''

Plesiopelma gertschi ''Plesiopelma'' is a genus of South American tarantulas that was first described by Reginald Innes Pocock in 1901. ''Plesiopelma'' species are particularly abundant along mountainous ranges, frequently living under stones. Both males and females l ...

'' ( Caporiacco, 1955) –

*''

Plesiopelma imperatrix ''Plesiopelma'' is a genus of South American tarantulas that was first described by Reginald Innes Pocock in 1901. ''Plesiopelma'' species are particularly abundant along mountainous ranges, frequently living under stones. Both males and females l ...

'' Piza, 1976 –

*''

Plesiopelma insulare ''Plesiopelma'' is a genus of South American tarantulas that was first described by Reginald Innes Pocock in 1901. ''Plesiopelma'' species are particularly abundant along mountainous ranges, frequently living under stones. Both males and females l ...

'' ( Mello-Leitão, 1923) – Brazil *''

Plesiopelma longisternale ''Plesiopelma'' is a genus of South American tarantulas that was first described by Reginald Innes Pocock in 1901. ''Plesiopelma'' species are particularly abundant along mountainous ranges, frequently living under stones. Both males and females l ...

'' (Schiapelli & Gerschman, 1942) – Argentina,

*''

Plesiopelma minense ''Plesiopelma'' is a genus of South American tarantulas that was first described by Reginald Innes Pocock in 1901. ''Plesiopelma'' species are particularly abundant along mountainous ranges, frequently living under stones. Both males and females l ...

'' (Mello-Leitão, 1943) – Brazil *''

Plesiopelma myodes ''Plesiopelma'' is a genus of South American Theraphosidae, tarantulas that was first described by Reginald Innes Pocock in 1901. ''Plesiopelma'' species are particularly abundant along mountainous ranges, frequently living under stones. Both male ...

'' Pocock, 1901 ( type) – Uruguay *''

Plesiopelma paganoi ''Plesiopelma paganoi'' is a tarantula in the ''Plesiopelma'' genus, this tarantula was first described by Nelson Ferretti and Jorge Barneche in 2014. It is named in honor of Luis G. Pagano, Argentinean ornithologist who helped to collect this spe ...

'' Ferretti & Barneche, 2013 – Argentina *''

Plesiopelma physopus ''Plesiopelma'' is a genus of South American tarantulas that was first described by Reginald Innes Pocock in 1901. ''Plesiopelma'' species are particularly abundant along mountainous ranges, frequently living under stones. Both males and females l ...

'' (Mello-Leitão, 1926) – Brazil *''

Plesiopelma rectimanum ''Plesiopelma'' is a genus of South American tarantulas that was first described by Reginald Innes Pocock in 1901. ''Plesiopelma'' species are particularly abundant along mountainous ranges, frequently living under stones. Both males and females l ...

'' (Mello-Leitão, 1923) – Brazil *''

Plesiopelma semiaurantiacum ''Plesiopelma'' is a genus of South American tarantulas that was first described by Reginald Innes Pocock in 1901. ''Plesiopelma'' species are particularly abundant along mountainous ranges, frequently living under stones. Both males and females l ...

'' (

Simon Simon may refer to: People * Simon (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the given name Simon * Simon (surname), including a list of people with the surname Simon * Eugène Simon, French naturalist and the genus ...

, 1897) –

, Uruguay Formerly included: *''P. flavohirtum'' (Simon, 1889) (Transferred to ''

Catanduba ''Catanduba'' is a genus of South American tarantulas that was first described by F. U. Yamamoto, S. M. Lucas & Antônio Domingos Brescovit in 2012. Species it contains seven species, all found in Brazil: *''Catanduba araguaia'' Yamamoto, Lucas ...

'')

References

Theraphosidae genera Spiders of South America Taxa named by R. I. Pocock Theraphosidae {{Theraphosidae-stub

Species

See also

References