Xenesthis

Xenesthis
X. immanis
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Mygalomorphae
Family:	Theraphosidae
Genus:	Xenesthis Simon, 1891[1]
Type species
X. immanis (Ausserer, 1875)
Species
5, see text

Xenesthis is a genus of tarantulas that was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1891.[2] As of February 2024^[update] it contains five species, found in Colombia and Venezuela,[1] though it was previously considered to be found in Panama.[3]

Diagnosis

There distinguishing factor is based on the scopulae of the metatarsus 4 is covering nearly the entire length and circumference of the segment. At the time it was the only known New World tarantula genus to own this trait, which is not the case today.[3]

Species

As of February 2024^[update] it contains 5 species according to the World Spider Catalog:[1]

• Xenesthis avanzadora Sherwood, Gabriel, Peñaherrera-R., Brescovit & Lucas, 2023 – Venezuela
• Xenesthis colombiana Simon, 1891 (Type) – Colombia
• Xenesthis immanis (Ausserer, 1875) – Colombia and Venezuela
• Xenesthis intermedia Schiapelli & Gerschman, 1945 – Venezuela
• Xenesthis monstrosa Pocock, 1903 – Colombia

Transferred to other genera

• Xenesthis cubana Franganillo, 1930 → Citharacanthus spinicrus

See also

• List of Theraphosidae species

References

1. "Gen. Xenesthis Simon, 1891". World Spider Catalog. Version 25.0. Natural History Museum Bern. 2024. doi:10.24436/2. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
2. Simon, E. (1891). "Liste des Aviculariides qui habitent le Mexique et l'Amérique centrale". Actes de la Société Linnéenne de Bordeaux. 44: 327–339.
3. Gabriel, Ray; Sherwood, Daniella (2022). "Taxonomy, biogeography, and ecology of some theraphosid spiders of the Darién region with description of five new species (Araneae: Theraphosidae)". Revista Ibérica de Aracnología. 40: 5–18. Retrieved July 17, 2022.