Psalmopoeus victori

Psalmopoeus victori, the Mexican half & half, is a species of tarantula endemic to the moist forests of Veracruz, Mexico,[1] although the exact location is withheld to protect from illegal collection.

Psalmopoeus victori
Mature female - Quentin Salinas
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Mygalomorphae
Family: Theraphosidae
Genus: Psalmopoeus
Species:
P. victori
Binomial name
Psalmopoeus victori
Mendoza, 2014

Description

This species is easily distinguished from other members of the genus Psalmopoeus by it unique coloration, that is having vibrant red on the backside (abdomen and legs III & IV) and dark coloration on the front legs, along with a green carapace, females reach roughly 6.5 inches by diagonal leg span. P. victori is sexually dimorphic, with males appearing much more slender, legs matching the green coloration of the carapace, and red abdomen. Like other species in the genus Psalmopoeus, the species lacks urticating hairs. This species is extremely reclusive, when searching at night, the time tarantulas are most active, it can still prove difficult to observe any specimen. When they are found, it is usually in tree cavities at a medium height.

Etymology

The specific name is a patronym in honor of Víctor H. Jiménez Arcos, a Mexican herpetologist who saw and collected the first specimen of the species.

gollark: Bad idea.
gollark: Infipage restored to beestatus.
gollark: Oh, I need to fix infipage, silly me.
gollark: And yet you attempted to python it.
gollark: <@319753218592866315> What do you want to *do* with the osmarks.tk osmarksradio stream?

References
  1. Ivánmendoza-Marroquín, Jorge (2014-09-01). "Psalmopoeus victori, the first arboreal theraphosid spider described for Mexico (Araneae: Theraphosidae: Aviculariinae)". Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad. 85 (3): 728–735. doi:10.7550/rmb.44597. ISSN 1870-3453.
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