Revised generic placement of Brachypelmaembrithes (Chamberlin & Ivie, 1936) and Brachypelmaangustum Valerio, 1980, with definition of the taxonomic features for identification of female Sericopelma Ausserer, 1875 (Araneae, Theraphosidae) Author Gabriel, Ray Author Longhorn, Stuart J. text ZooKeys 2015 526 75 104 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.526.6315 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.526.6315 1313-2970-526-75 BA29348F1339413E8F16B08F78DB167D Taxon classification Animalia Araneae Theraphosidae Sericopelma embrithes (Chamberlin & Ivie, 1936) comb. n. Eurypelma embrithes Chamberlin & Ivie, 1936: 7 (D female) Avicularia embrithes Raven, 1985: 146, 148, 151 (T f from Eurypelma ). Aphonopelma embrithes Schmidt, 1993: 78 (T f from Eurypelma = Avicularia ). Brachypelma embrithes Smith, 1994: 160 (T f from Eurypelma = Avicularia ). Description. Female (Holotype AMNH): Total length including chelicerae 58.6. Carapace, length 27.6, width 23.2. Caput, high. Ocular tubercle, length 2.6, width 3. An terior row procurved, posterior row recurved. Eyes ALE> AME, AME> PLE, PLE> PME. Clypeus; 0.9, clypeal fringe long. Fovea, deep transverse. Maxillae, with 100-120 cuspules, covering approximately 60% of proximal edge. Labium, length 3.2, width 4.4, with 40-60 labial cuspules most separated by less than 0.5 - 1 times the width of a single cuspule. Labio-sternal mounds separate. Sternum, damaged with three pairs of sigilla. Femur IV with a dense pad of plumose hair on retro-lateral surface, pro-lateral surfaces of trochanter/femur of anterior legs lacking stridulatory setae. Tarsi I-IV densely scopulate. Metatarsal scopulae, I 88%, II 83%, III 64%, IV 15% of the length of the segment, IV divided. Lengths of leg and palpal segments see Table 2. Spination: femurs I, III, IV, 0-0-2 palp d 0-0-1, patella I, palp, II, III 0-2-0, IV 0-3-0, tibia 1 d 0-2-0, v 0-0-3, II d 1-2-0, v 1-1-3, III d 2-2-2, v 0-2-3 (apical), tibia IV d 4-3-2, v 2-1-2, palp d 0-1-2, metatarsus I 0-0-1, II v 0-0-2 (apical), III d 2-3-2, v 4-0-5 (apical), IV d 3-2-2, v 5-5-9 (5 apical). Posterior lateral spinnerets, with three segments, basal 4.4, medial 3.7, digitiform apical 6.1.Lateral median spinnerets, with one segment. Spermathecae, single domed receptacle apically swollen (Fig. 1). Urticating hairs (not from holotype) type I and III. Figure 1-5. 1 Spermathecae from holotype of Sericopelma embrithes in dorsal view 2 Live specimen in situ of Sericopelma cf. embrithes at type locality on Barro Colorado Island, probable adult Female [Photo: Insa Wagner, STRI] 3 Spermatheca drawing of female Nicaraguan Sericopelma sp. in dorsal from Schiapelli and Gerschman (1967) , their figure 20 4 Spermatheca of mature female Sericopelma sp. Boquete ( 8.78°N , 82.43°W ), Districto Boquete, Chiriqui Province, Panama, dorsal view lacking any distinct median notch 5 Same spermatheca (as 4) in lateral view with diagnostic 'P-shape' (of seen in reverse). Colour. Type specimen alcohol faded brown. Live freshly moulted specimens from type locality are an overall blackish with longer red hairs on the abdomen, with grayish hairs on the dorsal trochanter, coxae and edges of the carapace, and two converging stripes on patella in older specimens (Fig. 2). These colours fade to overall brown with subdued russet abdominal hairs after a few months and the first dry season (RG pers.obs.). Distribution. Only known from type locality Barro Colorado Island, = Lake Gatun/ Canal Zone, Districto La Chorrera, Provincia de Panama , Republica de Panama [DMS = 9°09'00"N , 79°50'41"W ]. Remarks. Originally, this species was described by "Carapace is decidedly longer than wide. Median depression transverse; deep" and "barely a trace of scopula on metatarsus IV". Our examination confirmed these features, but lead us to conclude identification as Sericopelma as defined here, including presence of an apically swollen unilobar spermathecae (Fig. 1, see also Figs 3-5, 7-9, contrast 13-16). The type locality of Barro Colorado Island is the site of a Smithsonian Institute field-centre; hence there is a large series of specimens from type locality assignable to Sericopelma embrithes (Fig. 2) in the MCZ, MIUP and PMY (supplementary material). It is possible that Sericopelma embrithes ( Chamberlin and Ivie 1936 ) is a junior synonym of another Sericopelma sp. such as Sericopelma commune Pickard-Cambridge, 1897 or Sericopelma panamanum (Karsch, 1880). Unfortunately, the mature male of Sericopelma embrithes remains unknown. However, geographic considerations can be vital to make confident decisions about both generic and species identities as many tarantulas have narrow distributions, and we contend these older named Panamanian species were collected in distant western Panama, namely 'Chiriqui' , likely the cool highlands near Volcan Baru and Boquete (Prov. de Chiriqui ) where Europeans would acclimatize (rather than the small modern village of Chiriqui , Prov. de Chiriqui ). Conversely, Sericopelma embrithes from Barro Colorado Island (Prov. de Panama ) is within the central Canal Zone, a distance of over 300 km from 'Chiriqui' (Specifically ca. 320 km from Panama City to Boquete). Figure 6-11. Holotype of Sericopelma angustum . 6 Habitus and labels 7 Valerio (1980) figure 19, drawing spermathecae 8 Spermathecae, dorsal view 9 Spermathecaee, lateral view showing (reversed) 'P-shape' diagnostic of Sericopelma 10 Dense pad of plumose hairs on femur IV not present in Brachypelma , upper with alcohol wet, bottom left inset same dried, bottom right inset closeup of plumose hairs 11 tarsus leg IV showing unusual spines along central axis, bottom left inset closer image.