''Aphonopelma'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

tarantula 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 ...

s native to the

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

. 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 Taxonomy is the practice and science of categorization or classification. A taxonomy (or taxonomical classification) is a scheme of classification, especially a hierarchical classification, in which things are organized into groups or types. ...

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 st ...

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 In zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the species that contains the biological type specim ...

'' Eurypelma seemanni''. Pocock also separated off the genus ''Dugesiella''. Two more new genera were later distinguished from ''Aphonopelma'': ''Delopelma'' by

Alexander Petrunkevitch Alexander Ivanovitch Petrunkevitch ( Russian: Александр Иванович Петрункевич, December 22, 1875 in Plysky near Kyiv, now Ukraine – March 9, 1964 in New Haven) was an eminent Russian arachnologist of his time. ...

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 gr ...

. 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 ''Sericopelma'' is a genus of tarantula (family Theraphosidae), found in Central America from Nicaragua to Panama. The limits of the genus and its distribution have long been confused; it is closely related to the genus ''Aphonopelma''. ''Serico ...

'' 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 The World Spider Catalog (WSC) is an online searchable database concerned with spider taxonomy. It aims to list all accepted families, genera and species, as well as provide access to the related taxonomic literature. The WSC began as a series of ...

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 ...

, 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 The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

Mexico Mexico (Spanish language, Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a List of sovereign states, country in the southern portion of North America. It is borders of Mexico, bordered to the north by the United States; to the so ...

*''

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 –

*''

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) –

*''

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 –

*'' Aphonopelma bacadehuachi'' Hendrixson, 2019 –

*'' Aphonopelma belindae'' Gabriel, 2011 –

Panama Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a transcontinental country spanning the southern part of North America and the northern part of South America. It is bordered by Co ...

*''

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 –

*'' Aphonopelma burica'' 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'' (Simon, 1891) –

*''

Aphonopelma catalina ''Aphonopelma catalina'' is a species of spiders in the family Theraphosidae, found in Arizona in the United States. References catalina Catalina may refer to: Arts and media * '' The Catalina'', a 2012 American reality television show ...

'' Hamilton, Hendrixson & Bond, 2016 –

*''

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 –

*''

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 –

*'' Aphonopelma cookei'' Smith, 1995 –

*''

Aphonopelma crinirufum ''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 crinitum ''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 ...

'' (Pocock, 1901) –

*'' Aphonopelma duplex'' (Chamberlin, 1925) –

*''

Aphonopelma eustathes ''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) –

*''

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 –

*''

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 –

*''

Aphonopelma geotoma ''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, 1937) –

*''

Aphonopelma gertschi ''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 –

*'' Aphonopelma griseum'' Chamberlin, 1940 –

*'' Aphonopelma hageni'' (Strand, 1906) –

*''

Aphonopelma helluo ''Aphonopelma helluo'' 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 the north ...

'' (Simon, 1891) –

*''

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) –

*'' Aphonopelma hesperum'' (Chamberlin, 1917) –

*'' Aphonopelma icenoglei'' Hamilton, Hendrixson & Bond, 2016 –

*'' Aphonopelma iodius'' (Chamberlin & Ivie, 1939) –

*''

Aphonopelma johnnycashi ''Aphonopelma johnnycashi'' is a species of tarantula (family Theraphosidae). It was found in 2015 near Folsom Prison in California and named after Johnny Cash, whose song "Folsom Prison Blues "Folsom Prison Blues" is a song by American singe ...

'' Hamilton, 2016 –

*''

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 –

*''

Aphonopelma latens ''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, 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 ...

Nicaragua Nicaragua (; ), officially the Republic of Nicaragua (), is the largest country in Central America, bordered by Honduras to the north, the Caribbean to the east, Costa Rica to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Managua is the coun ...

*'' Aphonopelma levii'' Smith, 1995 –

*''

Aphonopelma madera ''Aphonopelma madera'' 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 –

*''

Aphonopelma mareki ''Aphonopelma mareki'' 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 ...

'' Hamilton, Hendrixson & Bond, 2016 –

*'' Aphonopelma marxi'' (Simon, 1891) –

*'' Aphonopelma moderatum'' (Chamberlin & Ivie, 1939) –

*''

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 –

*''

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 gen ...

'' Prentice, 1997 –

*'' Aphonopelma mooreae'' Smith, 1995 –

*''

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 –

*''

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 Brachype ...

'' (F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897) –

*''

Aphonopelma paloma ''Aphonopelma paloma'', or the Paloma dwarf, is a species of spider belonging to the family Theraphosidae Tarantulas comprise a group of large and often hairy spiders of the family Theraphosidae. , 1,040 species have been identified, with ...

'' Prentice, 1993 –

*'' Aphonopelma parvum'' Hamilton, Hendrixson & Bond, 2016 –

*''

Aphonopelma peloncillo ''Aphonopelma peloncillo'' is a species of spider in the family Theraphosidae, found in the United States ( Arizona and New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe, New ...

'' Hamilton, Hendrixson & Bond, 2016 –

*'' Aphonopelma phasmus'' Chamberlin, 1940 –

*''

Aphonopelma platnicki ''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 –

*'' Aphonopelma prenticei'' Hamilton, Hendrixson & Bond, 2016 –

*''

Aphonopelma prosoicum ''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 –

*'' Aphonopelma ruedanum'' Chamberlin, 1940 –

*''

Aphonopelma saguaro ''Aphonopelma saguaro'' is a species of spiders in the family Theraphosidae, found in United States (Arizona). References saguaro The saguaro (, ) (''Carnegiea gigantea'') is a tree-like cactus species in the monotypic genus ''Carnegiea ...

'' Hamilton, 2016 –

*''

Aphonopelma sclerothrix ''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 seemanni'' (F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897) (

) –

Central America Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United States to the north, Colombia to the south, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. ...

*''

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

'' (Simon, 1891) –

*''

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) –

*''

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 –

*''

Aphonopelma truncatum ''Aphonopelma truncatum'' 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 the no ...

'' (F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897) –

*'' Aphonopelma vorhiesi'' (Chamberlin & Ivie, 1939) –

*''

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 –

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