''Idiothele'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of African

tarantulas Tarantulas comprise a group of large and often hairy spiders of the Family (biology), family Theraphosidae. , 1,100 species have been identified, with 166 genera. The term "tarantula" is usually used to describe members of the family Therap ...

that was first described by J. Hewitt in 1919. it contains two species, both found in southern Africa: '' I. mira'' and '' I. nigrofulva''. While originally described as their own genus, ''Idiothele'' was synonymized with ''

Pterinochilus ''Pterinochilus'' is a genus of Harpactirinae, baboon spiders that was first described by Reginald Innes Pocock in 1897. They are found all throughout Africa. Species it contains ten species, all found in Africa: *''Pterinochilus alluaudi'' Lu ...

'' in 1985, due to similar morphological characteristics. This was later corrected by Richard C. Gallon in 2002, citing differences in both morphology and behavior. The tarantulas in the genus ''Idiothele'' is the only genus of African tarantulas who make trap doors at the entrance of their burrow.

References

Theraphosidae genera Spiders of Africa Theraphosidae {{Theraphosidae-stub

See also

References