Chilobrachys dyscolus

Chilobrachys dyscolus
C. dyscolus in Cat Tien National Park
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Mygalomorphae
Clade: Avicularioidea
Family: Theraphosidae
Subfamily: Selenocosmiinae
Genus: Chilobrachys
Species:
C. dyscolus
Binomial name
Chilobrachys dyscolus
(Simon, 1886)[1]

Chilobrachys dyscolus is a species of spider in the tarantula family (Theraphosidae) native to Vietnam. It was first described by Eugène Simon in 1886 as Phrictus dyscolus.[1][2] It is known as the Asian smokey earth tiger tarantula, Burma chocolate brown tarantula or Vietnam blue tarantula.[3]

Description

C. dyscolus anterior view

While the species is usually a chocolate brown, grayish spider, after the molt it has a blue-black coloration all throughout the body. Under normal circumstances this tarantula is either a light brown or black all throughout the body. Although sometimes the front facing areas of the pedipalps and legs bright metallic blue color persist.

Behavior

This spider is defensive, and quite nervous, at first it will try to flee, but under persistent provocation it will try to bite. As most of the Chilobrachys genus, it digs intricate and beautiful tunnel systems in the substrate.

References

  1. ^ a b "Taxon details Chilobrachys dyscolus (Simon, 1886)", World Spider Catalog, Natural History Museum Bern, retrieved 2022-06-08
  2. ^ Simon E (1886) Arachnides recueillis par M. A. Pavie (sous chef du service des postes au Cambodge) dans le royaume de Siam, au Cambodge et en Cochinchine. Actes de la Société Linnéenne de Bordeaux 40: 137-166.
  3. ^ "Chilobrachys dyscolus". Theraphosidae. 2015-08-13. Archived from the original on 2020-09-23.