Chicken Spider Male: 1st Time Pics

[Martin Nicholas]

Interesting, Ray I'm not familiar with that Pampho sp. But would be good to compare. The one and only confirmed Chicken Spider in the UK is in the Spirit room of the BMNH (I know because I put it there)

My promised specimens never turned up either but I don't know the circumstances(!) I get around 4 emails per month asking about this T "I have one" "I want one" "I'll pay you to get me one" "come round to my place and join me in a hot bubble bath (no sir I would prefer not!)

I can say without agenda - because what one would I have, I have never seen photos of a captive Peruvian, Madres de Dios Chicken Spider in the hobby. I know it will happen one day but whoever has it must be prepared to answer the question "where did you get it?" because I have never found it outside the highly protected and policed National Reserve and National Park.

[Michael Olsinia]

Hi Martin,

A copy of the crassifemur paper can be found for free here:

http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/taxa/Araneae.html

[andy hood]

great pics of a very nice spider martin

[Zoltan Mihaly Lestyan]

Hello all,

When I first saw the pics, similarly to Ray, Pamphobeteus crassifemur Bertani, Fukushima & Silva, 2008 was the name that popped in to my mind. As their specific name tells, these have thickened femora, especially on the 3rd legs. BTW, here's a direct link to the Bertani, Fukushima & Silva, 2008 article: http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2008/f/zt01826p058.pdf

[neilhayles]

Hi,this is very exciting news Martin...i look forward to your results on this beautie
Thanks...Neil

[Craig Bellamy]

Martin, great find! I have never found a live male, only bred one, which incidently are all from the same above. If you can confirm these are the thicked legged CS's, I indeed had a quite a few until a dreadful accident in the loft overheating.

As for iridescence, it is was barely noticable in my specimen, which I personally bred from the mother above. I think you really need to gauge a few specimens before you can pin down a range of colours as all species have variations just like all animal species, it very much depends on the area in question. I still have the dried male above, but in a bad state, willing to send again if you want, just been really busy.

[Patricio Cavallo]

Congrats Martin! nice pics! It's really a mystery all these black Pamphobeteus. They seem to have a really wide range in the west Amazon. The subadult male from North Peru is in premolt, if it matures, we can compare with yours. Really exciting news.

BTW, I was thinking of the P. crassifemur too. They look different judging by pictures alone though... the prosoma of CS is quite wider for example.

Best regards,
Pato

[Larry Shone]

Great pics, and all I can say is I want one!

[James Quinton]

some stunning pics there!