Heterothele erdosi Sherwood & Gallon, 2025

Described by Richard C Gallon, Danniella Sherwood

♂ Male described

Carapace © Sherwood & Gallon (2025), holotype male, carapace dorsal view

Type Locality and Records

Type locality

Bibliography

Sherwood, D. & Gallon, R. C. (2025). Heterothele erdosi, a new species of Heterothele Karsch, 1879 from Nigeria (Araneae: Theraphosidae). Natura Somogyiensis 45: 51-56.

Distribution

Nigeria

Type Locality: CIOR Site 11TA, Ibadan, Nigeria, fallow bush

Adult Male Activity

Collection months of 2 adult male specimen records

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Etymology

The specific epithet is an eponym in honour of the Hungarian mathematician Paul Erdős (1913-1996), who published over 1,500 papers, making him the most prolific mathematical researcher who ever lived. Erdős was famous for his love of collaboration and worked with hundreds of coauthors, spurring the invention of the Erdős number. The dedication Erdős gave to his field is described as a constant inspiration to the first author in hers.

Specimen Records (3)

NHMUK (H. erdosi holotype) ♂ Holotype Nigeria

CIOR Site 11TA, Ibadan, fallow bush; labelled Theraphosidae sp. det., Oyo

July 1973 · col. A. Russell-Smith

Holotype male of Heterothele erdosi. Found among jars otherwise containing Acontius (Cyrtaucheniidae). Leg I was measured from the right side, the left being missing.

RGPC (H. erdosi paratypes) ♂ Paratype Nigeria

Ibadan, secondary forest, Oyo

April 1981 · col. A. Russell-Smith

Four paratype males of Heterothele erdosi in the Richard Gallon Private Collection; determined as Heterothele sp. by Gallon, 15 December 2005.

NHMUK (H. erdosi paratype) ♂ Paratype Nigeria

"from Nigeria" — a rudimentary torn label with no date or precise locality; confirmed as Ibadan by questioning the collector

col. A. Russell-Smith

Paratype male of Heterothele erdosi, found shortly after the holotype in another sample of the same Acontius species.