daveemory How many Tarantula(s) do you own?: 4,248,591
Joined: 27 Apr 2009 Posts: 503 User Online:
Location: Tarantuland
Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 6:11 pm Post subject: rampant Singapore Blue confusion
I'm wondering if _anyone_ has truly set the record straight between the two different spiders which are constantly being sold as "Singapore Blue": the Cyriopagopus sp. and the Lampropelma violaceopes. The common name is being used interchangeably between these species, but they do NOT appear to be the same, based on my research (and photo viewings). Some dealers use one formal name and some use the other.
Has anyone actually sorted this out and knows the deal?
CodeWilster How many Tarantula(s) do you own?: plenty
Joined: 12 Jan 2009 Posts: 295 User Online:
Location: Tehama county CA
Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 10:30 pm Post subject:
The difference (now) is actually quite clear although dealers may not be up on the changes yet. Anyway, here it is:
The "Singapore Blue", a large arboreal species with brilliant blue markings came into the hobby as Cyriopagopus sp "blue".
For the longest while that is what it was sold as. Now much time later, the species is recognized by its actual name Lampropelma violaceopes. Thus, the Cyriopagopus sp "blue" name can be completely trashed.
Coincidentally, a second, nice and large blue-ish similarly-looking species came in just around the time the Cyriopagopus sp "blue" ID was being changed to L. violaceopes. Thus, some specimens of the old, large arboreal blue species were given the revised name, while at the same time some were calling this new species L. violaceopes too.
It turns out the new species is actually a burrowing spider. For a second it was called Haplopelma robustum, but because of the uncertainty of the genus it is currently going by its subfamily name Ornithoctoninae sp "robustum" or "Malaysia". This subfamily includes Haplopelma, Lampropelma, and Cyriopagopus, among other genera.
I could not tell you what dealers are selling what, but anybody (i.e. James/Blaberus, Swift) that is selling anything as Ornithoctoninae sp PLUS has L. violaceopes probably knows which is which. Anybody selling only L. violaceopes may have one or the other, or a mix.
BTW, The Singapore Blue (L. violaceopes, formerly Cyriopagopus sp "blue") can be distinguished from Ornithoctoninae sp. I unfortunately do not have any pictures, but see these links:
*These are from swiftinverts.com, Kelly has the correct species labeled and being sold.
If you want me to provide you with sources all I can say is this is info is a compilation of info I have read in various places on various forums, as I have always been interested in both species and was curious to know myself.
<edit> go to Swift's site, he sort of says this in his description next to Ornithoctoninae sp.
*both specimens pictured/linked to in Oscar's thread appear to be L. violaceopes _________________ A considerably greater amount of faith is required to believe that the complexity of this world happened by chance alone, rather than to believe there is a God.
daveemory How many Tarantula(s) do you own?: 4,248,591
Joined: 27 Apr 2009 Posts: 503 User Online:
Location: Tarantuland
Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:53 am Post subject:
Cody -
Great! That all seems to make sense; it's just that with few seemingly settled on Ornithoctoninae sp "robustum" or "Malaysia" for the burrowing one, the confusion can be rampant. In my research, I came across several folks selling the one which is depicted in your Swift's link in the grass - which is obviously not the same species as the L. violaceopes from a visual standpoint - as "Singapore Blue".
CodeWilster How many Tarantula(s) do you own?: plenty
Joined: 12 Jan 2009 Posts: 295 User Online:
Location: Tehama county CA
Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 8:19 am Post subject:
It shows ya how there are not a whole lot of dealers on top of things :)
I can't tell you how many spiders I have purchased that are NOT what they were labeled. One example, hardly anybody actually has the true Euathlus vulpinus. All but one dealer I have ordered those from send me a Paraphysa sp (probably P. scrofa) instead. I wouldn't mind too much but there is a big price difference!
With the Sing. Blues/Violets however, the juveniles do look alike and so I cannot blame the dealers too much. _________________ A considerably greater amount of faith is required to believe that the complexity of this world happened by chance alone, rather than to believe there is a God.
"The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true art and true science. Whoever does not know it and can no longer wonder, no longer marvel, is as good as dead, and his eyes are dimmed."
--"The World As I See It," originally published in FORUM AND CENTURY, 1931.
- Albert Einstein "
I speak English, German and Lonish.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
i 