Striata or Regalis?

[Michelle Howarth]

Recently I purchased a new pokie - it was sold to me as p. striata but I have been told it might be p. regalis. I've also been told it's an immature male. If this is the case, I really need to know precisely what he is so he can get some spider loving when the time is right. I have taken the best photos I can get of him - what do you think?

(any tips on what to look for would also be greatly appreciated)

Thanks very much for any help with this.

[Dan Kennard]

As mentioned on the other forum, it's a sub adult male regalis.

You can tell he's a regalis by the ventral white and yellow leg banding, and the developing cream band surrounding the book lungs.

Regalis are also a sexually dimorphic species - wherein males and females will exhibit different physical characteristics. Typically, the folio running down the abdomen would be much whiter on a female sub adult/adult female. As you can see, it's quite dull - A trait usually exhibited by very young, and male specemins. Also, regalis are quite easy to sex by looking at the epigastric region.

The epigastric region in regalis males is typically quite narrow and "square" shaped, with a trangular patch of dark epiandrous fusillae with a bald patch in the lower center. In females, the region is usually quite wide, and more triangular shaped, opposed to square.

As you can see in your pictures, the square shape, region of dark epiandrous fusillae, and bald patch are all present, along with the dark folio.

[Michelle Howarth]

Thanks for helping me further Dan, an excellent and very educational answer. Very much appreciated

[Dan Kennard]

Actually Michelle, scratch that. Some of the pictures weren't showing on my computer, and based the ventral on the one's you posted on AP.

The ventral pics are showing today, and the banding on legs 3 & 4 are consistent with striata. I've seen regalis males with banding as faint as that moult out, only for it to become much clearer. But in this case, a better photopgraph was a great help.

[Michelle Howarth]

Actually Michelle, scratch that. Some of the pictures weren't showing on my computer, and based the ventral on the one's you posted on AP.

The ventral pics are showing today, and the banding on legs 3 & 4 are consistent with striata. I've seen regalis males with banding as faint as that moult out, only for it to become much clearer. But in this case, a better photopgraph was a great help.

Thanks Dan, it's good to know what he is I did try and get an even clearer photo, but he's pretty fast and doesn't much like posing.

Thank you so much for the help!

[Richard Gallon]

Don't be so quick to rule out striata. The ventral leg pattern of striata and regalis are identical - and some striata do indeed display a muted subabdominal band as in your specimen. In regalis the band is much more prominent than your specimen.

The worst thing you could do is assume it's regalis and use it for breeding. If there's doubt, best not to use it for breeding purposes.

Is there a reason to doubt the seller's original ID?

Cheers,
Richard

[Dan Kennard]

The ventral leg pattern of striata and regalis are identical

Maybe it's just me, but I've often found regalis to have more white on the ventral of legs III & IV.

In regalis the band is much more prominent than your specimen

I've had regalis males with bands as faint as that show a much clearer one after moulting out.

[Michelle Howarth]

Don't be so quick to rule out striata. The ventral leg pattern of striata and regalis are identical - and some striata do indeed display a muted subabdominal band as in your specimen. In regalis the band is much more prominent than your specimen.

The worst thing you could do is assume it's regalis and use it for breeding. If there's doubt, best not to use it for breeding purposes.

Is there a reason to doubt the seller's original ID?

Cheers,
Richard

Petstore bought. I have never had a wrong spider from this particular petstore, however one did sell me a Ephebopus cyanognathus as a sling which turned out to be God knows what, had no luck identifying it. this spider did come with a latin name p. striata but when I put pictures up there was uncertainty. However having looked again I am satisfied it is a striata.