A native of the Amazonas region of Ecuador, South America this spider was first described by Peter Kirk in 1990, as "a new species of Theraphosid spider from Ecuador".

The spider lives in cultivated areas especially cattle pastures containing a number of isolated trees. These spiders occupy a number of distinct habitats and, like most other species of Avicularia, are primarily arboreal in their habits. These habitats include:

Hollows in trees, lined with silk. The tube entrance in always facing down.
Web spun below an epiphytic plant.
Within the construction of the houses of local peoples, especially frequenting the gaps between the corrugated rooves and the supporting beams or holes in walls.

It is described by Peter Kirk, thus...

"At first glance this spider appears to be jet-black in colour. Closer inspection under natural light reveals that dorsally on the cephalothorax, legs, palps and chelicerae there is a quite intense purple-blue iridescence. The long setae covering the legs and palps are not black, but a very dark red-brown, but this is not very distinct. Dorsally, the tarsal and metatarsal scopulae are very dark brown - almost black. The tarsal tufts are pale cream-pink in colour, but this is not as obvious as in many other species of Avicularia. The abdomen is velvet-black with longer setae of the same colour as those on the legs and palps. The overall integument is black.

Ventrally, the legs and palps are black with the same purple-blue colouration, though this is less intense than on the dorsal surface. The bucal hairs around the mouth are bright orange-red, with the sternum and abdomen being velvet black."

He continues ... "The specific name [purpurea] refers to the metallic purple-blue iridescence seen on the dorsal surface of the spider in natural light (daylight)."

Avicularia purpurea Kirk, 1990

Type Locality and Records

Bibliography

Distribution

Etymology