Aphonopelma madera
Hamilton, Hendrixson & Bond, 2016
Madera Canyon Tarantula
Aphonopelma madera is a of tarantula in the Theraphosidae, described in 2016 from specimens collected in the Santa Rita Mountains of southeastern Arizona. The species is named for Madera Canyon, a well-known locality in its range. Like other members of the Aphonopelma, it is a large, ground-dwelling with urticating defensive hairs. The species is part of a taxonomic revision that split the formerly broadly-defined Aphonopelma chalcodes complex into multiple distinct species based on morphological and molecular data.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Aphonopelma madera: /ˌæfoʊnoʊˈpɛlmə məˈdɛrə/
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Identification
Aphonopelma madera is distinguished from similar through a combination of morphological characters established during the 2016 revision of the A. chalcodes complex. Precise identification requires examination of mature specimens, particularly males, and reference to the original taxonomic description by Hamilton, Hendrixson, and Bond.
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Habitat
The has been documented in the Santa Rita Mountains of southeastern Arizona, specifically in and around Madera Canyon. This region consists of oak-juniper woodland and riparian corridors at moderate elevations in the Madrean Sky Islands .
Distribution
United States: Arizona (Santa Rita Mountains, specifically Madera Canyon area).
Similar Taxa
- Aphonopelma chalcodesFormerly considered ; A. madera was split from the A. chalcodes complex based on morphological and molecular differentiation. The two occur in different mountain ranges in Arizona.
More Details
Taxonomic History
Aphonopelma madera was formally described in 2016 by Hamilton, Hendrixson, and Bond as part of a comprehensive revision of the Aphonopelma chalcodes group. Prior to this revision, specimens from the Santa Rita Mountains were likely identified as A. chalcodes.
Etymology
The specific epithet 'madera' refers to Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains, the locality and a well-known destination for naturalists in southeastern Arizona.