Avicularia glauca Simon, 1891

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 : 42

Avicularia glauca Simon, 1891 Figs 19, 52-53

Avicularia glauca Simon, 1891: 312 (holotype female, Panama, MNHN–AR 4897, examined); F. O. Pickard-Cambridge 1896: 744, 1899: 42; Petrunkevitch 1911: 50; Mello-Leitão 1923: 377; Roewer 1942: 254; Bonnet 1955: 831; World Spider Catalog 2016.

Remark.

The examined specimen is not labeled as holotype. However, it is the only specimen in Simon’s collection in which locality and size are compatible with the description (Simon 1891). Therefore, we consider it as the holoype.

The small specimen (carapace length 9.7 mm) has tarsal and metatarsal scopulae expanded, giving a spatulated aspect, characteristic of Aviculariinae (Fig. 52). A single spermatheca is present: the other is supposed lost. It has an accentuated outwards curvature medially and lacks lobes, as most species of Avicularia (Fig. 53). Thus, it undoubtedly belongs to Avicularia . Its spermatheca has a short, well-sclerotized area that resembles the spermathecae of Avicularia purpurea , with which it seems to be very closely related. Furthermore, it has the overall metallic green color exhibited by young and small specimens of Avicularia purpurea . The specimens found in Costa Rica and reported by Valerio (1979) as Avicularia avicularia were examined by the second author (RB). They are, in fact, definitely not Avicularia avicularia . Despite many searches, we did not find any other specimen from Panama or Costa Rica in other arachnological collections, indicating Avicularia is a rare genus in southern Central America. Therefore, we conclude that Avicularia glauca can be a valid species from Panama and Costa Rica. The identity of Costa Rica’s Avicularia will be better discussed in another paper, in preparation with a Costa Rican colleague.