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Selenocosmia

Selenocosmia is a genus of tarantulas that was first described by Anton Ausserer in 1871. The genus is found in China, New Guinea, Australia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Laos, Vietnam, Philippines, India and Pakistan. They are commonly referred to as whistling or barking spiders, due to their ability to stridulate using lyra hairs.

Diagnosis

In a 2022 paper it was stated that "They can be distinguished from all other tarantula genera by the reduced and shallow apical keel. There is also an absence of dense tufts of retrolateral bristlelike hairs on the tibia and metatarsus of the fourth leg. They stridulate using the maxillae which have lyra hairs, which look somewhat like a scimitar.", citing another article from the previous year. However neither study compare against all Selenocosmia species, therefore it is unknown if this diagnosis holds for all Selenocosmia species.

Species

the genus contains thirty-six species and four subspecies, found in Asia, Australia, and Papua New Guinea:

Formerly included:

Nomina dubia

  • Selenocosmia lyra <small>Strand, 1913</small>
  • Selenocosmia subvulpina <small>Strand, 1907</small>

References