''Reichlingia'' is a
monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispe ...
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 ...
of
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. ...
n
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 containing the single species, ''Reichlingia annae''. The genus was first described in 2001,
and has only been found in
Belize
Belize (; bzj, Bileez) is a Caribbean and Central American country on the northeastern coast of Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south. It also shares a wate ...
.
Originally placed with the
brushed trapdoor spiders, it was moved to the
tarantula family in 2014,
and is a member of the
Ischnocolinae subfamily. The sole species was originally described by
Steven B. Reichling as ''Acanthopelma annae'', but was changed to ''Reichlingia annae'' when it was transferred to this genus in 2001.
It is named after Reichling's wife Ann, who helped with the arachnological investigation.
References
Theraphosidae
Monotypic Theraphosidae genera
Spiders of Central America
{{Theraphosidae-stub