Poecilotheria hanumavilasumica Smith, 2004

Common name: Rameshwaram ornamental

♀ Female described ♂ Male described

Female

Type Locality and Records

Type locality

Original Description

Smith, A. (2004). A new species of the arboreal theraphosid, genus Poecilotheria, from southern India (Araneae, Mygalomorphae, Theraphosidae) with notes on its conservation status. Journal of the British Tarantula Society 19(2): 48-61 [p. 52, f. 1-17].

Distribution

IndiaSri Lanka

Type Locality: Hanumavilasum estate: Aneyamkunde Devastanam Temple Trust – Southern India

Adult Male Activity

Collection months of 1 adult male specimen record, against the rainfall where they live

Adult males collected

Mean monthly rainfall and temperature 2001–2020 near the type locality. MERRA-2 via NASA POWER, for a grid cell averaging 0 m. Wet and dry seasons, from the rainfall at the locality itself.

Etymology

The spider is named after the Hanumavilasum plantation - a sacred grove of Tamarind trees in which the local deity, Muneeshwarankovil, has a small temple.

Specimen Records (6)

BMNH ♂ Type India

Hanumavilasum estate: Aneyamkunde Devastanam Temple Trust – Southern India

November 1993 · col. Philip Charpentier

damaged – possibly partly consumed by female

BMNH ♀ Type India

Hanumavilasum estate: Aneyamkunde Devastanam Temple Trust – Southern India

November 2003 · col. Andrew Smith and Paul Carpenter

BMNH ♀ Type India

Sundavamada Plantation; Mandapam – Southern India

November 2003 · col. Andrew Smith and Paul Carpenter

DWC-SLMS 2014-001 ♀ Sri Lanka

Mannar Island, Mannar District, Northern Province, Sri Lanka, elevation 5 m

December 2012 · col. R.P. Nanayakkara and N. Vishvanath

DMCKT-14/157-1 ♀ India

Chinnar, Kerala

June 2014 · col. Sunil Jose K

elevation 2300 m

DMCKT-14/157-2 ♀ India