{{Short description|Genus of spiders}} {{Automatic taxobox | taxon = Poecilotheria | image = Poecilotheria_formosa01.jpg | image_caption = ''Poecilotheria formosa'' | authority = Simon, 1885<ref name=WSC_g3413 /> | type_species = ''Mygale fasciata'' | type_species_authority = (Latreille, 1804)<ref name=WSC_g3413/> | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = 16, see text }} '''''Poecilotheria''''' is a genus of tarantulas native to India and Sri Lanka. It was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1885.<ref name=Simo1885>{{cite journal| last=Simon| first=E.| year=1885| title=Matériaux pour servir à la faune arachnologiques de l'Asie méridionale. I. Arachnides recueillis à Wagra-Karoor près Gundacul, district de Bellary par M. M. Chaper. II. Arachnides recueillis à Ramnad, district de Madura par M. l'abbé Fabre| journal=Bulletin de la Société Zoologique de France| pages=1–39| volume=10| author-link=Eugène Simon}}</ref> They are arboreal tarantulas, commonly known as '''ornamental tarantulas''',{{citation needed|date=October 2019}} known for their vivid color patterns, fast movement, and potent venom compared to other tarantulas. {{As of|2019}} all species are protected under CITES.
The genus name is a combination of the Ancient Greek "poikilos" ({{lang|grc|ποικίλος}}), meaning "spotted", and therion" ({{lang|grc|θηρίον}}), meaning "wild beast".
==Taxonomy== The species belonging to ''Poecilotheria'' were first documented in 1734 by Dutch zoologist Albertus Seba, when he went to Sri Lanka. He published the new spiders he saw in his illustrations of the book ''Albertus Seba's Thesaurus'' under the name of ''Aranea maxima ceilonica'' (meaning ''big spider from Sri Lanka''). However, the most precise scientific explanation came in 1804 when Pierre André Latreille described the spider as ''Mygale fasciata''.<ref name=poecilotheria/><ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/257360250 | title=Study of the distribution of the genus ''Poecilotheria'' in Sri Lanka |journal=Ceylon Journal of Science |volume=34 |pages=75–86 |access-date=13 March 2016 |last1=Samarawickrama |first1=V.A.M.P.K. |last2=Jayananda |first2=M.D.B.G. |last3=Ranawana |first3=K.B. |last4=Smith |first4=Andrew |name-list-style=amp }}</ref>
After about 40 years delay, in 1850, C.L. Koch revised the generic name ''Mygale'' in to ''Scurria'' and species as ''Scurria fasciata''. In 1885, Eugène Simon proposed the generic name ''Poecilotheria'' instead of ''Scurria'' due to species description errors with a mollusk.<ref name=poecilotheria />
There is a debate about the taxonomy of a few species. Some sources identify ''Poecilotheria vittata'' of Sri Lanka as a synonym of ''Poecilotheria striata'' of India,{{citation needed|date=February 2016}} but in other sources both of them have been given valid species identity.<ref name=WSC_g3413/> The naming of ''Poecilotheria bara'' from Sri Lanka is also in debate – whether it is the same species as ''Poecilotheria subfusca'', found in south central parts of Sri Lanka. In 2014, Ranil P. Nanayakkara, a Sri Lanka arachnologist, regarded ''P. vittata'', ''P. striata'', ''P. bara'', and ''P. subfusca'' as distinct species.<ref name=poecilotheria/>
===Species=== {{As of|2025|November}}, the World Spider Catalog accepted the following species, seven from India, six from Sri Lanka and two from both countries.<ref name=WSC_g3413/>
====India==== *''Poecilotheria formosa'' <small>Pocock, 1899</small> — Salem ornamental *''Poecilotheria metallica'' <small>Pocock, 1899</small> — Gooty sapphire ornamental *''Poecilotheria miranda'' <small>Pocock, 1900</small> — Bengal spotted ornamental *''Poecilotheria regalis'' <small>Pocock, 1899</small> — Indian Ornamental *''Poecilotheria rufilata'' <small>Pocock, 1899</small> — red slate ornamental *''Poecilotheria striata'' <small>Pocock, 1895</small> — Mysore ornamental, Pedersen's ghost ornamental *''Poecilotheria tigrinawesseli'' <small>Smith, 2006</small> — Wessel's tiger ornamental
====Sri Lanka==== {{main|List of tarantulas of Sri Lanka}} *''Poecilotheria fasciata'' <small>(Latreille, 1804)</small> (type species) — Sri Lankan ornamental *''Poecilotheria ornata'' <small>Pocock, 1899</small> — fringed ornamental *''Poecilotheria rajaei'' <small>Nanayakkara, et al., 2012</small> — Mankulam pink banded ornamental *''Poecilotheria smithi'' <small>Kirk, 1996</small> — yellow backed ornamental *''Poecilotheria subfusca'' <small>Pocock, 1895</small> — ivory ornamental *''Poecilotheria srilankensis'' <small>Nanayakkara, et al., 2020</small>
====Both countries==== *''Poecilotheria hanumavilasumica'' <small>Smith, 2004</small> — Rameshwaram ornamental *''Poecilotheria vittata'' <small>Pocock, 1895</small> — Magam ornamental
====Junior synonyms==== The following species were once considered to be species, but are now considered synonyms of other species by the World Spider Catalog and other sources {{As of|2025|November|lc=yes}}:<ref name=WSC_g3413/> *''Poecilotheria amarasekarai'' = ''P. rajaei'';<ref name=poecilotheria/> regarded as distinct by other sources<ref name=PereBurtAmarWatt12/> *''Poecilotheria bara'' <small>Chamberlin, 1917</small> = ''P. subfusca''; regarded as distinct by other sources<ref name=poecilotheria/> *''Poecilotheria chaojii'' <small>Mirza, Sanap & Bhosale, 2014</small> = Poecilotheria tigrinawesseli *''Poecilotheria gadgili'' <small>Tikader, 1977</small> = ''P. regalis'' *''Poecilotheria nallamalaiensis'' <small>Rao et al., 2006</small> = ''P. formosa'' *''Poecilotheria pederseni'' <small>Kirk, 2001</small> = ''P. vittata'' *''Poecilotheria pococki'' <small>Charpentier, 1996</small> = ''P. smithi'' *''Poecilotheria uniformis'' <small>Strand, 1913</small> = ''P. subfusca''
==Biology== Species of ''Poecilotheria'' are easily distinguishable from other species of family Theraphosidae due to the flattened carapace, maxilla with spines, and black teeth like tubercles. Their legs lack spines and the scopula of the legs are clearly seen. There are unique color patterns on the ventral surface, especially on the legs. The dorsal surface of the abdomen has several variegated stripes and spots of black and white. The first and fourth pair of legs are colored with striking yellow and black patterns, a feature used especially to identify up to species level.<ref name=poecilotheria />
Males and females show sexual dimorphism, which enables easy recognition. Mature males are easily recognizable by highly sclerotized sperm storage pouches called palpal bulbs. Palpal bulbs are used to inject sperm in to female's genitalia. Males are smaller than females and also more slenderly built. In males, the first pair and fourth pair of legs are of the same length, but in females, the first pair of legs are longer than the fourth pair. Males are usually more dull colored with cryptic markings and are inconspicuous. However, the folium marking on the opisthosoma is darker than that of females.<ref name=poecilotheria />
==Ecology== Ornamental tarantulas are nocturnal and crepuscular hunters. They come out to forage in dusk and dawn. Unlike many other spiders, they do not use a cobweb to catch prey. Instead, they are ambush predators, where they sit and wait until the prey comes closer or passes by, then follow the prey with exceptional speed, catch it, and inject venom to immobilize it.<ref name=poecilotheria /><ref name=PereBurtAmarWatt12/>
Once the prey is secured, they roll the prey in silk and start to feed. The most common prey of tiger spiders are insects, larvae, small birds, and small mammals (e.g. bats, mice).<ref name=poecilotheria /><ref name=PoecBat />
Several species of ''Poecilotheria'' are classed as "endangered" or "critically endangered", with the main threats being habitat loss and for at least one species, ''P. metallica'', collection and smuggling for the pet trade.<ref>{{cite web |title=Search for ''Poecilotheria'' |website=IUCN Red List 3.1 |url=https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?taxonomies=113940 |access-date=12 November 2018 }}</ref><ref name="MoluDaniSili08">{{Citation |last1=Molur |first1=S. |title=''Poecilotheria metallica'' |date=2008 |url=https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/63563/12681959 |website=The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T63563A12681959.en |name-list-style=amp |last2=Daniel |first2=B.A. |last3=Siliwal |first3=M.|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
==Conservation== As of 2019, all species of ''Poecilotheria'' are listed on CITES Appendix II. This means that specimens cannot be legally traded (internationally) without CITES export permits from the country of export (or CITES re-export permits if the specimens had been previously imported from another country).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cites.org/eng/updates_decisions_cop18_species_proposals|title= Updates on decisions made on proposals to amend Appendices I and II at CoP18: Decisions made on proposals to amend Appendices I and II|website=CITES|access-date=28 August 2019}}</ref>
== Photos == <gallery> File:PoecilotheriaBara5L.jpg|''Poecilotheria subfusca''. File:Poecilotheria metallica.jpg|''Poecilotheria metallica'' File:P regalis.JPG|''Poecilotheria regalis'' File:Poecilotheria rufilata 8LA2.jpg|''Poecilotheria rufilata''
File:Poecilotheria rajaei.JPG|''Poecilotheria rajaei'' </gallery>
==References== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name=PereBurtAmarWatt12>{{Cite journal |last1=Perera |first1=Palinda |last2=Burt |first2=Peter |last3=Amarasekera |first3=H.S. |last4=Wattavidanage |first4=Jayantha |date=2012 |title=Distribution, ecology and morphology of a newly discovered ''Poecilotheria'' species of Sri Lanka (Araneae - Theraphosidae) |journal=Proceedings of 17th International Forestry and Environment Symposium |volume=17 |page=13 |url=https://journals.sjp.ac.lk/index.php/fesympo/article/view/662 |access-date=2016-02-26 |name-list-style=amp }}</ref>
<ref name=poecilotheria>{{cite book |last=Nanayakkara |first=Ranil P. |year=2014 |title= Tiger Spiders ''Poecilotheria'' of Sri Lanka |publisher=Biodiversity Secretariat, Ministry of Environmental & Renewable Energy |location= Colombo |pages= 167 |isbn= 978-955-0033-58-4 }}</ref>
<ref name=WSC_g3413>{{cite web |title=Gen. ''Poecilotheria'' Simon, 1885 |work=World Spider Catalog |publisher=Natural History Museum Bern |url=https://www.wsc.nmbe.ch/genus/3413 |access-date=2025-11-13 }}</ref>
<ref name="PoecBat">{{cite journal |last1=DAS |first1=KARUMAMPOYIL SAKTHIDAS ANOOP |title=Predation on the Kelaart's Pipistrelle Bat, Pipistrellus ceylonicus Kelaart (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae), by the Reddish Parachute Tarantula, Poecilotheria rufilata Pocock (Araneae: Theraphosidae), in Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India |journal=Tropical Natural History |date=October 2012 |volume=12 |issue=2 |pages=257–260 |doi=10.58837/tnh.12.2.103044 |url=https://www.thaiscience.info/Journals/Article/TNAH/10899556.pdf}}</ref> }}
==External links== {{Commons|Poecilotheria}} * [http://www.spidy.goliathus.com/english/tarantula.php?species=Poecilotheria ''Poecilotheria'' pictures]
{{Taxonbar|from=Q135053}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Poecilotheria Category:Spiders of Asia Category:Theraphosidae genera Category:Taxa named by Eugène Simon