The Lasiodora Genus, what did the latest revision mean?

[AndrewClayton]

The most recent revision of the Lasiodora genus, published on December 27, 2023, significantly redefined its taxonomy.

The genus was reduced to just 7 species. Many former species were synonymized, considered nomina dubia (doubtful names), or reassigned to other genera.
In the recent revision of the Lasiodora genus, significant taxonomic changes were made.


The genus now seven only valid species are as follows.

Lasiodora benedeni (Bertkau, 1880)

Lasiodora camurujipe (Bertani, 2023)

Lasiodora franciscana (Bertani, 2023)

Lasiodora klugi (C. L. Koch, 1841)

Lasiodora parahybana (Mello-Leitão, 1917)

Lasiodora sertaneja (Bertani, 2023)

Lasiodora subcanens (Mello-Leitão, 1921)


The species that were either Reassigned Or Synonymized are as follows.

Lasiodora acanthognatha were synonymized with Lasiodora parahybana.

Lasiodora dulcicola were synonymized with Lasiodora subcanens.

Lasiodora lakoi was transferred to Megaphobema, now Megaphobema lakoi.

Lasiodora spinipes was transferred to Theraphosa, now Theraphosa spinipes.

Lasiodora sternalis was transferred to Acanthoscurria, now Acanthoscurria sternalis. Due to a homonymy issue, it was renamed Acanthoscurria melloleitaoi.

Lasiodora auronitens was transferred to Pycnothele, now Pycnothele auripila.

Lasiodora boliviana transferred to Acanthoscurria, as a Synonym of Acanthoscurria insubtilis.

Lasiodora itabunae were synonymized with Lasiodora Klugi

Lasiodora differens, Lasiodora curtior, Lasiodora mariannae, Lasiodora difficilis, Lasiodora erythrocythara and Acanthoscurria cristata were all synonymized with Lasiodora benedeni.


The following species are declared nomina dubia due to insufficient descriptions or missing type specimens. This means these are no longer species of anything, if you do have one of these it is most likely something mentioned above or could be part of Nhandu or Vitalius genus.


Lasiodora bahiensis
Lasiodora citharacantha
Lasiodora cryptostigma
Lasiodora dolichosterna
Lasiodora fallax
Lasiodora fracta
Lasiodora moreni
Lasiodora pantherina
Lasiodora pleoplectra
Lasiodora saeva
Lasiodora striatipes


The analysis confirmed that Lasiodora is monophyletic and closely related to the genera Nhandu and Vitalius. The study also clarified relationships among allied genera. This revision addressed historical misclassifications due to outdated methods, bringing clarity to a previously chaotic genus.

Here is a link to the full revision if anyone would like a read.

Taxonomic revision and cladistic analysis of Lasiodora C. L. Koch, 1850 (Araneae, Theraphosidae) with notes on related genera | Zootaxa

mapress.com

 

[m0lsx]

Lasiodora spinipes was transferred to Theraphosa, now Theraphosa spinipes.

My thoughts when I read it was. This is an interesting scientific evaluation. How wonderfully scientific it is to say lets transfer a species to Theraphosa without a review of Theraphosa, or any indication of if this species belongs there?


I seem to remember reading that for some there was speculation that Theraphosa blondi's without the hairy knees were Theraphosa spinipes? We now call those Theraphosa stirmi.

Maybe Penn & Teller can do a program about this, they love debunking psudoscience.

 

[AndrewClayton]

My thoughts when I read it was. This is an interesting scientific evaluation. How wonderfully scientific it is to say lets transfer a species to Theraphosa without a review of Theraphosa, or any indication of if this species belongs there?


I seem to remember reading that for some there was speculation that Theraphosa blondi's without the hairy knees were Theraphosa spinipes? We now call those Theraphosa stirmi.

Maybe Penn & Teller can do a program about this, they love debunking psudoscience.

Yeah think they just put it there until they figure out what to do with it was reassigned to Theraphosa after reviewing the type specimen. However, its placement within the genus still requires further molecular and morphological studies to confirm its relationship with other Theraphosa.