Ybyrapora is a genus of spiders in the family Theraphosidae (tarantulas), found in Brazil. Its species were formerly placed in the genus Avicularia.[1]

Ybyrapora
Female Ybyrapora gamba
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Mygalomorphae
Family: Theraphosidae
Genus: Ybyrapora
Fukushima & Bertani, 2017[1]
Type species
Avicularia sooretama
Bertani & Fukushima, 2009[1]
Map of South America showing presence of three Ybyrapora species in coastal Brazil

Description edit

Ybrapora consists of species that are smaller than most aviculariines. Females have strongly curved, almost non-sclerotized (i.e. non-hardened) spermathecae. The tibial apophysis (outgrowth) on the first leg is absent or small. Individuals show major colour changes as they mature. Immature spiders have a central reddish mark with jagged edges running along the centre of the abdomen, surrounded by a dark area connected to similarly dark coloured stripes running across the abdomen. These patterns become duller or disappear in adults, particularly females.[2]

Taxonomy edit

The genus was erected by Caroline Sayuri Fukushima and Rogério Bertani in 2017 for three species formerly placed in Avicularia which they regarded as distinct, both in their morphology and distribution. The genus name is derived from the Tupi language and means "tree dweller", referring to the arboreal habit of the genus.[2]

Phylogeny edit

A morphological phylogenetic study in 2017 suggested that the genus is most closely related to Iridopelma, forming a clade with Antillena, Caribena, Iridopelma and Pachistopelma, distinct from Avicularia:[2]

Species edit

As of March 2017, the World Spider Catalog accepted the following species, all transferred from Avicularia:[1]

Distribution and habitat edit

Ybrapora species are found in the Atlantic rainforest of Brazil, from Bahia to the south of Rio de Janeiro.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "Gen. Ybyrapora Fukushima & Bertani, 2017", World Spider Catalog, Natural History Museum Bern, retrieved 2017-03-10
  2. ^ a b c d Fukushima, C.S. & Bertani, R. (2017), "Taxonomic revision and cladistic analysis of Avicularia Lamarck, 1818 (Araneae, Theraphosidae, Aviculariinae) with description of three new aviculariine genera", ZooKeys (659): 1–185, Suppl. 1–5, doi:10.3897/zookeys.659.10717, PMC 5345366, PMID 28331414