Haplopelma longipes, minax, or ?

[Travis Knudtson]

http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=130276

Above you will note that I have been tring to ID these two haplos I got from a local LPS. I have pics 1.5 months after last molt to help us determine the species. If I have to I am willing to mail the molt out in hopes of a positive ID.
Here are the pics, and this is some info I pulled on line - http://www.eightlegs.org/phpBB2/species.html - once there click on Ornithoctoninae. I am still rather clueless on the actual ID and need to find out so I can sell them or keep them. They just don't float my boat that much, but the longer I have them the harder it will be for me to get rid of them.






Thanks, and does any one know how to contact Volker von Wirth?
Regards,

[Mark Pennell]

pretty sure its h,minax

cheers
Mark

[Travis Knudtson]

pretty sure its h,minax

cheers
Mark

What gives it away as minax, IYO?

[Travis Knudtson]

Ocular Arrangement

[Travis Knudtson]

Spermathecae

[Mark Pennell]

Hi Travis
Not that any ID from a picture is 100% accurate as this is just not possible especially in beat up Ornithoctoninae. My guess was just based on a purely visual first impression. Perhaps I should have worded it a little different

IE: It looks more H, minax than H,longipes. As it does look very minax to me looking at these and comparing these images.

Does yours have a patch of long hair on metIV and tarsi IV its hard to tell from that image. I believe H, longipes has this.

However as you have access to this tarantula this paper might help you work out what you have.

Also you can message Volker from this sight as he is a member here, I sure he would be able to 100% ID with access to the exuvium.

http://www.striffler.net/papers/von_Wirth_&_Striffler_2005-Ornithoctonus_aureotibialis&Haplopelma_longipes.pdf

Hope this helps.

Cheers
Mark

PS:I was writing this as you posted the last images...

[Travis Knudtson]

http://www.striffler.net/papers/von_Wirth_&_Striffler_2005-Ornithoctonus_aureotibialis&Haplopelma_longipes.pdf

Hope this helps.

Cheers
Mark

That helps immensely! Now I can rule out H. Longipes. Too bad it didn't have Minax images to compare.

[Travis Knudtson]

Ocular comparison of H. longipes vs H. sp(?)

Confirmed H. longipes.............................vs........... .......................H. sp(?)

[Colin D Wilson]

Travis, first of all hi and welcome to the forum from me.

Well, as much as i'm into haplos' it's H minax on first impressions for me too...
The occular arrangement suggests it's not longipes to me if the image on left is confirmed.

Colin
p.s. Have edited your links in your signature so they work now ok mate.

[Tomasz Drożdżal]

Hi,

It is most important to check the leg relation: Leg I and Leg IV should be quite equal (source 1, source 2, source 3),
and then to check the stridulation organ (source 4).

...and then you can say that there is a big chance to have the real H.minax

Regards,
Tomasz

[Travis Knudtson]

Ocular Tubercle Overlay


For those that can't see the difference that easily, this should help.
LOL, they kinda go Boo, don't they?

The longipes ocular tubercle is from http://www.striffler.net/papers/von_...a_longipes.pdf , "

Abb. 22: Augenhügel von

Haplopelma longipes sp. n. ♀ [Paratyp

BMNH (E) 2005-153, VvWC 1/R.W./150903]"
I enlarged and and highlighted/touched up the image to demonstrate the ocular arangements. Then I made this nice little overlay to show just how different these two are.

[Travis Knudtson]

close up scan of spermathecae both posterior and anterior sides

Anterior Spermathecae, aka ventral

Posterior Spermathecae, aka dorsal

[Travis Knudtson]

Update

Soren, on AB helped me see that light. Posterior and Anterior are terms more appropriate for vertebrate description, and last night I was tired and got the terms mixed up with my pics anyway(now corrected above).

Soren has also helped me come to the conclusion that it is between H. vonwirthi / H. sp. "Vietnam". I am going to try and find out if there are any known taxonomical differences between the two.

BTW this little T quest of mine has been very fun, insightful, and informative.

[James Box]

i've been following this thread and it is indeed very useful and interesting!
thanks for posting all those pics and asking the questions

[Travis Knudtson]

i've been following this thread and it is indeed very useful and interesting!
thanks for posting all those pics and asking the questions

click here on the latest update, thanks to Soren!

http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=140876

Thanks for every ones interest,