Generic key of the Subfamily AVICULARIINAE 

( Radan Kaderka )

 Updated: October 2008

The subfamily Aviculariinae is diagnosed by following synapomorphies (RAVEN 1985): legs weakly spined or aspinose, tarsi as broad as or broader than metatarsi, presence of spinose process between cymbial lobes in males. This subfamily contains arboreal and semiarboreal species with two different types of urticating hairs; with abdominal hairs of the type II (Avicularia, Iridopelma and probably Pachistopelma) and with palpal hairs of the type V (Ephebopus). Some genera of this subfamily, e.g. Psalmopoeus and Tapinauchenius, lack urticating and were transferred to the new subfamily Psalmopoeinae (SAMM & SCHMIDT 2010).

The key is based on SCHMIDT & RUDLOFF 2003. 

1. Abdominal type II urticating hairs present ........................................................................ 2

    - absent ....................................................................................................................... 4

2. Single tibial apophyses on legs I and II present ................................................. Iridopelma

    - single tibial apophysis present only on leg I or absent .................................................... 3

3. Single tibial apophysis present on leg I, tibium II with cluster of spines ......... Pachistopelma 

    -  Single tibial apophysis present on leg I present or absent ............................... Avicularia

4. Palpal type V urticating hairs present ............................................................. Ephebopus

    - absent ................................................................................. subfamily Psalmopoeinae

Notes: 

The genera Avicularia, Iridopelma and Pachistopelma are closely related in phylogeny. The systematic position of Ephebopus is unclear.

Bibliography:

Raven Robert J. (1985) The Spider Infraorder Mygalomorphae (Araneae): Cladistics and Systematics. Bulletin of The American Museum of Natural History. Volume 182: 1-180.

Samm R., Schmidt G. (2010) Psalmopoeinae subfamilia nov. - eine neue Unterfamilie der Theraphosidae (Araneae). Tarantulas of the World - 142: 35-41.

Schmidt G., Rudloff J.-P. (2003) Die Vogelspinnen. Westarp Wissenschaften Hohenwarsleben: 104-114.