Please identify this Selenocosmiid

[Gavin Choo]

Hello all. I'm from Singapore, and a couple of days ago I found a tarantula rather unlike what I'm used to seeing.

Theraphosid fauna here in Singapore is very limited, and there are only 4 known terrestrial species:

Phlogiellus inermis
Coremiocnemis valida
Haplopelma robustum
Selenocosmia javanensis

Of these, only P. inermis can be considered common, and comparisons with a female I have clearly demonstrate that the mystery spider is something else altogether.

Here is my female Phlogiellus inermis (note the long spinnerets, the hair around the edge of the cephalothorax, the lack of patterning and the shape and colour of the cephalothorax):



My mystery spider (note the very short spinnerets, the lack of hair around the edge of the cephalothorax, the dark stripe on the abdomen and the shape and colour of the cephalothorax):



Another distinguishing characteristic - while P. inermis is extremely timid and runs at the first sign of danger, this spider is a lot more aggressive. Plus: the rear pair of legs are clearly longer than the front. Does this mean Selenocosmia javanensis?

Thanks in advance for any input.

[Mrs Linda Street]

Hi Gavin and welcome to the forum. I know next to nothing about these particular T's but I am sure that you will get some helpful feedback in due course.

Nice pics by the way.

[James Box]

sadly i can't add any more, but just to say lovely spiders! i am finding myself more and more taken with these little brown jobbies as we call them here
they aren't flash like some species, but they possess subtle beauty!
and i'm not alone here, i know a few others here who feel the same way.
welcome to the forum

[Gavin Choo]

Thank you both and hi corpselight

I think I have an idea what she is...probably Selenocosmia javanensis, as I've suspected all along.

[Colin D Wilson]

Hi Gavin.
The leg IV tibia and metatarsus do look quite proportionally longer in your picture, and i think this is a keying out feature (? i may be incorrect here though, LBJ's not my strong point)

Have you looked at our theraphosid gallery, there's a couple of images on there that may give you a better idea (within the dodgy realms of picture ID'ing a spider )

whatever it is... i agree with James, these "brown" spiders are not really appreciated by most for their subtle beauty.

[Gavin Choo]

Hi Gavin.
The leg IV tibia and metatarsus do look quite proportionally longer in your picture, and i think this is a keying out feature (? i may be incorrect here though, LBJ's not my strong point)

Have you looked at our theraphosid gallery, there's a couple of images on there that may give you a better idea (within the dodgy realms of picture ID'ing a spider )

whatever it is... i agree with James, these "brown" spiders are not really appreciated by most for their subtle beauty.

Thanks for the input, but identification is now a secondary concern. This tarantula appears to be gradually losing control over her legs. A couple of days ago, she abruptly and inexplicably dropped her third left leg. Right now, she seems to have lost complete control of her first right leg. I cannot, cannot lose her. What could be going on?

[Colin D Wilson]

If it's wild caught, it could possibly be a parasitic condition...i've heard of "iratic" limb detachment in these cases though have never experienced it first hand.

[James Box]

that doesn't sound too promising
good luck with it, Phark!
btw you have some great pics on your flicker site

[Gavin Choo]

Thanks James.

Anyway, I think the case is solved. This is a link I got from Craig on AP:

http://www.arachnophiles.co.uk/forum...ead.php?t=9242

I just found the leg she dropped two nights ago, and at the broken tip I see the same yellowish, highly viscous, jelly-like liquid I saw in Craig's spider. She's a goner then. Also, I just checked on my Phlogiellus inermis female and one of her legs is also in this state. Incidentally, Yamia (Craig's spider) is actually Phlogiellus (as far as I know). Now, I've removed the afflicted limb, and surprisingly, NO, there was none of the yellow stuff, just normal blue-grey spider blood.

Also, the enclosure this spider is currently residing in was the previous home of my P. inermis female which clearly has the same problem. This spider also came into contact with the silk from the P. inermis. Could the "disease" have been transmitted this way, via the silk?

[James Box]

doesn't sound great but they could still make it!

[Gavin Choo]

I took the spider out and put all the substrate into the microwave oven for over a minute. I hope that killed whatever was in it. Also washed the entire tank with copious amounts of soap. Now all that's left to do is wait and hope for the best.

[James Box]

best you can do! fingers crossed!

[Nicola Dolby]

Good luck Gavin and welcome to the BTS. I hope the spider pulls through!