Poecilotheria srilankensis Nanayakkara, Ganehiarachi, Kusuminda, Vishvanath, Karunaratne & Kirk, 2019

Described by Ranil P. Nanayakkara, Peter J. Kirk, G.A.S.M Ganehiarachchi, Nilantha Vishvanath, T.G. Tharaka Kusuminda, Mathisa K. Karunaratne

♀ Female described ♂ Male described

Female

Type Locality and Records

Type locality

Original Description

Nanayakkara, R. P., Ganehiarachchi, G., Kusuminda, T. T., Vishvanath, N., Karunaratne, M. K. & Kirk, P. J. (2019). A new species of Tiger spider in the genus Poecilotheria Pocock, 1899 (Araneae: Theraphosidae) from Belihuloya, Sri Lanka. Journal of the British Tarantula Society 34(3, 2019).

Distribution

Sri Lanka

Type Locality: Pambahinna, Belihuloya, Sabaragamuwa District, Sri Lanka

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 1250 m. Wet and dry seasons, from the rainfall at the locality itself.

Etymology

The species is named after its native country. As this species has unique characteristics when compared to others of the genus and differs greatly from the known congeners from both India and Sri Lanka.

Specimen Records (2)

NWRTC SP002 ♀ Type Sri Lanka

Pambahinna, Belihuloya, Sabaragamuwa District, Sri Lanka

June 2014 · col. R.P. Nanayakkara

elevation 570 m

NWRTC SP003 ♂ Type Sri Lanka