Curious about sp. And color variations in tarantulas

[DustyD]

So I was perusing online tarantula shops and came across this listing. It was for an Aphonopelma sp. white. An import from Mexico. I think that means it's a subspecies perhaps of A. chalcodes. But I am not clear what that means.

It is from Microwilderness. And at this point was sold out.

I have seen a few sp. of Grammostola as well.

 

[MBullock]

Sp white?

More like Sp needs-a-molt.

 

[m0lsx]

The newly catalogued bamboo T, was formerly a sp. The same with a few others.

 

[DustyD]

Thanks. I was just curious. Follow up question: So if something is a subspecies, is that a sp of a specific species? For example could there be a subspecies of Grammostola Pulchra? Or would it just be a subspecies if Grammostola?

 

[m0lsx]

For example could there be a subspecies of Grammostola Pulchra? Or would it just be a subspecies if Grammostola?

My wife has a Grammostola rosea, red. She also has a couple of Grammostola sp conception & a Grammostola sp Maule. All 3 are variations of the rosea. So the answer is not an easy one, as it's.

could there be a subspecies of Grammostola Pulchra?

Yes.

would it just be a subspecies of Grammostola?

Maybe yes.

 

[DustyD]

I had some curiosity and some ulterior motives by posing these questions.
In Maine where I live, only G. rosea, pulchripes and pulchra are legal.

I was wondering whether I could expand my collection by getting subspecies while still remaining in the law. I have not asked that to the state or other keepers.
And thanks @m0lsx

 

[Arachnoclown]

In Oregon they had the same requirements for the few species mentioned plus a few more. When a few people approached the State about it the State said... When they wrote the legislation on this they only used the well known species in the hobby at the time. Now knowing more information on tarantulas today they realize they aren't invasive or disruptive to the Northern environments. Yet at this time they have no interest in rewriting the law or have interest in enforcing it.

 

[m0lsx]

I was wondering whether I could expand my collection by getting subspecies while still remaining in the law.

Living in the UK, not the USA, all I can say is. Normally the law is black & white. If it states rosea, then normally it is only rosea that is effected & normally, law enforcement has to prove that the item/being under discussion is exactly what the law covers. So innocent until proven guilty.

Here in the UK, pitbull dogs are not able to be legally owned, but to stop people having dogs, which the state then has to prove are pitbulls, the legal description is, pitbull type dogs. So if it looks like a pitbull & has even a small amount of pitbull DNA, then that is what it is.

 

[m0lsx]

I was wondering whether I could expand my collection by getting subspecies while still remaining in the law. I have not asked that to the state or other keepers.
o find in reality it is ABC species.

It is worth looking around at what has happened to others. Many people buy a T as a sling / juvenile, even as an adult & are told it is XYZ species, only to find it is, in reality, ABC species.

And I am not sure many people would know the difference between a rosea & a maule without time & googles help & an understanding of tarantula taxonomy. So if the enclosure label stated it was a maule or conception, I am not sure how many people would know they are a rosea sub species, or be able to positively identify them, as what they are, without that label or the help of a rather expensive specialist.

 

[DustyD]

Thanks for the info. Likely I will try the legal way and see if the state will add species.

 

[MBullock]

I dont trust people that claim pitbulls are dangerous. It's a massive red-flag of a complete lack of internal dialogue.

That's actually pretty serious. It's a classical hallmark of severe antisocial personality disorder to lack this. Probably why so many people idolize rotten celebrities (who were the origin of the pitbull aggression myth FYI) that perform disgusting acts and encourage violence.

Anyway...

that looks more like an iodius group member to me.

Probably either chalcodes, eutylenum or iodius, which are all also found in mexico, especially if it came from the peninsular range

 

[Jeef]

I was eyeballing that same tarantula on Microwilderness. If the weather was warmer, I probably would have "found" more space for tarantulas and gotten it.

It does look a lot like an A. chalcodes. The idea of a white one intrigues me. I got the impression they had more than one, so I figured it wasn't just one old one.

 

[DustyD]

I was thinking a form of or related to A. chalcodes myself. I could have asked Microwilderness, but I am not really a potential buyer at this point, so I did not want to waste his time.