Phormictopus auratus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Phormictopus auratus | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Mygalomorphae |
| Clade: | Avicularioidea |
| Family: | Theraphosidae |
| Genus: | Phormictopus |
| Species: | P. auratus |
| Binomial name | |
| Phormictopus auratus | |
Phormictopus auratus, commonly known as the Cuban bronze tarantula, is a species of tarantula endemic to Cuba. It is found in the provinces of Camagüey, Las Tunas and Holguín.[1] It was first described by David Ortiz and Rogério Bertani in 2005, and was named after golden hairs found in this species, auratus meaning golden in Latin.
Females live up to 15 years, while males only live from 4 to 5. It is unmistakable for any tarantula in its genus, in a great part thanks to those golden coloration. Somehow it has been mistaken for other species in the genus.[2] Their carapace is a golden color, alongside the legs, which are mostly covered in greyish hairs. The opisthosoma is black covered in grayish hairs, though this hairs alongside the ones of the legs may look blue in certain lighting conditions.
