Avicularia

Taxobox
name = "Avicularia"

---

image_width = 240px
image_caption = Female "Avicularia versicolor"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Arachnida
ordo = Araneae
familia = "Theraphosidae"
subfamilia = "Aviculariinae"
genus = "Avicularia"
genus_authority = Lamarck, 1818
diversity_link = List of Theraphosidae species#Avicularia
diversity = 54 species
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = See article

"Avicularia" is a genus of the family Theraphosidae containing various species of tarantulas. The genus is native to tropical South America.

One of the most notable features of the "Avicularia" species is its odd method of defense. When threatened, their first choice is to jump or run away as quickly as possible - occasionally, though, they will launch a jet of excrement at the perceived threat. Adults are capable of good accuracy and a range of 0.5-1 m (2 or 3 feet).

There is also a belief that they may be the reason behind rumors of "flying spiders" in the rainforests they are native to, as they are quite adept at jumping. Their legs, however, prevent them from gaining much height in making a jump.

"Avicularia avicularia" are among the tarantulas most commonly kept as pets.

List of species

* "Avicularia affinis" (Nicolet, 1849) (Chile)
* "Avicularia alticeps" (Keyserling, 1878) (Uruguay)
* "Avicularia ancylochira" Mello-Leitão, 1923 (Brazil)
* "Avicularia anthracina" (C.L. Koch, 1842) (Uruguay)
* "Avicularia aurantiaca" Bauer, 1996 (Peru)
* "Avicularia avicularia" (Linnaeus, 1758) (Costa Rica to Brazil), the Pinktoe tarantula
* "Avicularia aymara" (Chamberlin, 1916) (Peru)
* "Avicularia azuraklaasi" Tesmoingt, 1996 (Peru)
* "Avicularia bicegoi" Mello-Leitão, 1923 (Brazil)
* "Avicularia borelli" (Simon, 1897) (Paraguay)
* "Avicularia braunshauseni" Tesmoingt, 1999 (Brazil), the Goliath pinktoe
* "Avicularia caesia" (C. L. Koch, 1842) (Puerto Rico)
* "Avicularia cuminami" Mello-Leitão, 1930 (Brazil)
* "Avicularia detrita" (C. L. Koch, 1842) (Brazil)
* "Avicularia diversipes" (C. L. Koch, 1842) (Brazil)
* "Avicularia doleschalli" (Ausserer, 1871) (Brazil)
* "Avicularia exilis" Strand, 1907 (Surinam)
* "Avicularia fasciculata" Strand, 1907 (South America)
* "Avicularia geroldi" Tesmoingt, 1999 (Brazil)
* "Avicularia glauca" Simon, 1891 (Panama)
* "Avicularia gracilis" (Keyserling, 1891) (Brazil)
* "Avicularia guyana" (Simon, 1892) (Guyana)
* "Avicularia hirsuta" (Ausserer, 1875) (Cuba)
* "Avicularia holmbergi" Thorell, 1890 (French Guiana)
* "Avicularia huriana" Tesmoingt, 1996 (Ecuador), the Ecuadorian woolly
* "Avicularia juruensis" Mello-Leitão, 1923 (Brazil), the Yellow-banded pinktoe
* "Avicularia laeta" (C. L. Koch, 1842) (Brazil, Puerto Rico)
* "Avicularia leporina" (C. L. Koch, 1841) (Brazil)
* "Avicularia metallica" Ausserer, 1875 (Surinam), the White-toe tarantula
* "Avicularia minatrix" Pocock, 1903 (Venezuela), the Venezuelan redstripe
* "Avicularia nigrotaeniata" Mello-Leitão, 1940 (Guyana)
* "Avicularia obscura" (Ausserer, 1875) (Colombia)
* "Avicularia ochracea" (Perty, 1833) (Brazil)
* "Avicularia palmicola" Mello-Leitão, 1945 (Brazil)
* "Avicularia panamensis" (Simon, 1891) (Mexico, Guatemala, Panama)
* "Avicularia parva" (Keyserling, 1878) (Uruguay)
* "Avicularia plantaris" (C. L. Koch, 1842) (Brazil)
* "Avicularia pulchra" Mello-Leitão, 1933 (Brazil)
* "Avicularia purpurea" Kirk, 1990 (Ecuador), the Ecuadorian purple
* "Avicularia rapax" (Ausserer, 1875) (South America)
* "Avicularia recifiensis" Struchen & Brändle, 1996 (Brazil)
* "Avicularia rufa" Schiapelli & Gerschman, 1945 (Brazil)
* "Avicularia rutilans" Ausserer, 1875 (Colombia)
* "Avicularia soratae" Strand, 1907 (Bolivia)
* "Avicularia subvulpina" Strand, 1906 (South America)
* "Avicularia surinamensis" Strand, 1907 (Surinam)
* "Avicularia taunayi" (Mello-Leitão, 1920) (Brazil)
* "Avicularia tigrina" (Pocock, 1903) (Uruguay)
* "Avicularia ulrichea" Tesmoingt, 1996 (Brazil)
* "Avicularia urticans" Schmidt, 1994 (Peru), the Peruvian pinktoe
* "Avicularia velutina" Simon, 1889 (Venezuela)
* "Avicularia versicolor" (Walckenaer, 1837) (Guadeloupe, Martinique), the Antilles pinktoe
* "Avicularia violacea" (Mello-Leitão, 1930) (Brazil)
* "Avicularia walckenaeri" (Perty, 1833) (Brazil)

External links

* Photos of 14 [http://www.spidy.goliathus.com/english/tarantula.php?species=Avicularia "Avicularia"] species in [http://www.spidy.goliathus.com/english/gallery-tarantulas.php tarantulas gallery] .
* [http://www.bighairyspiders.com/pic_avicularia.shtml Phong's Tarantula page]
* [http://forums.arachnoboards.com The Arachnoboards Forums]