Avicularia arabica (Strand, 1908), nomen dubium

Fukushima, Caroline Sayuri & Bertani, Rogerio, 2017, Taxonomic revision and cladistic analysis of Avicularia Lamarck, 1818 (Araneae, Theraphosidae, Aviculariinae) with description of three new aviculariine genera 01, ZooKeys 659, pp. 1-185 : 77

Avicularia arabica (Strand, 1908), nomen dubium Fig. 222

Avicuscodra arabica Strand, 1908: 771 (holotype female, Egypt, El-Tor [28°14'N, 33°37'E] (Tor, Arabien [sic]), Rüppell, SMF 2660, examined); 1916: 20; Roewer 1942: 256.

Chaetopelma arabica : Raven 1985: 149.

Avicularia arabica : Gallon 2008: 243, figs 39-41; World Spider Catalog 2016.

Remarks.

The holotype of Avicuscodra arabica was recently rediscovered by Gallon (2008) in SMF. The specimen, supposedly from Tor, Egypt, is clearly an Avicularia as proposed by Gallon (2008). It has two spermathecae lacking lobes and with accentuated outwards curvature medially. Urticating setae of type II are present on abdomen dorsum. These characters are present in Avicularia species, which are restricted to Central and South America. As Gallon (2008) stated, the presence of a tropical American specimen together with Arabian material is most likely a mistake made by a nonspecialist before Strand’s examination.

Even though it is possible to identify the specimen as belonging to the genus Avicularia , it is a small female in poor condition, without evident color pattern and no other diagnostic characteristic. It is not possible to assure the specimen identity since spermathecae morphology is similar in most Avicularia species (Fig. 222). Furthermore, there is no indication of where the specimen came from. Thus, Avicularia arabica (Strand, 1908) is, herein, considered nomen dubium.