Pterinochilus colour variations

[Mark Harrison]

I was recently asked if some P.Murinus slings i had for sale were the RCF colour form. I said that as far as im aware the mother was of the UMV (Usambara Mountains Variant), yet did not know what colour/variation the male was. This was due to being already gravid (much to my suprise) when purchased from local exotics store.

I was only familiar with the pale golden variation (called the TCF?) and the aformentioned UMV, is there a discernible difference between the RCF and UMV colour forms? Is the RCF a regional variant or a totally different kettle of fish together

[Guy Tansley]

In the hobby, RCF refers to Red Colour Form which is the same as the UMV form.

[Mark Harrison]

Hi guy, so the two colour variations are one in the same? I only ask as after conducting some research i came across some information that i feel helps. It states that the RCF are often sold as Pterinochilus Mamillatus or P.spp."Usambara" and that they have red/orange long and short setae. Whereas the UMV variant are described as a possible natural intergrade between the TCF and RCF, where their colouration is said to be a more intense pale yellow/orange.

http://www.baboonspiders.de/html_en/genera_pterinochilus.html#farbvarianten_murinus

[Guy Tansley]

Pterinochilus Mamillatus was found to be P. murinus RCF but with P. murinus being such a wide ranging species, there are many colour variants up to the point where P. murinus "intermediate" was being sold.

[Mark Harrison]

Thanks for the replies guy. Its a rather confusing genus, made all the more confusing when people refer to such wide ranging species such as P.murinus as one particular colour form.