User:Spider Conservation Unit Sri Lanka/Poecilotheria smithi

Poecilotheria smithi Poecilotheria is one of the threatened spider genera, and comes under the Family Theraphosidae (the tarantulas). Several species in the Poecilotheria genus are at risk of extinction due to illegal collections, plus fragmentation and loss of native habitats. Found only in India and Sri Lanka (Smith, 2001), 16 Poecilotheria species have been identified and recorded taxonomically (Perera, 2009), and five of them (P. subfusca, P. onata, P. fasiata, P. pederseni and P. smithi) are found native and existing in Sri Lanka (Samarawckrama et al., 2005). The recent discovery of a Poecilotheria will be the 17th species for the Poecilotheria list and the 6th species in Sri Lanka (Perera, 2012). The Poecilotheria genus commonly has a broad distribution in Sri Lanka and India (Pocock, 1900). Ancestral Poecilotheria may have originated from one primitive (mygalomorph) species or group in the Indian continent, which later differentiated into several species (Perera, 2010; 2012). Little is known about Poecilotheria behaviour, ecology and distribution as they have been little studied in their wild habitats. Poecilotheria smithi is one of those species found in Sri Lanka that is on the brink of extinction (Gabriel et al., 2005). Found in only one locality, the species is under threat by rapidly developing urban activities. Specifically, the high interest among the pet trade has made P. smithi selectively removed from its natural habitat. ...

References

arachnoboards.com, Poecilotheria metallica and Poecilotheria smithi, http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?203046-Poecilotheria-metallica-and-Poecilotheria-smithi

arachnoboards.com, Poecilotheria smithi - Thanksgiving 24-hour blowout sale! http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?196887-Poecilotheria-smithi-Thanksgiving-24-hour-blowout-sale!

Gabriel R, Pedersen N and Rafn S, (2005), Notes and Observations of Poecilotheria smithi and the Threat to its Survival in Captivity and Sri Lanka, the British Tarantula Society journal, 2005, 21 (1), pp4-8, online source available at: http://www.thebts.co.uk/media/Notes%20and%20Observations_of_Poecilotheria.pdf

IUCN Red List (2007), The 2007 Red List of Threatened Fauna and Flora of Sri Lanka, IUCN- The World Conservation Union.

Kirk P J, (2006), A new species of Poecilotheria (Araneae: Theraphosidae) From Sri Lanka, British Tarantula Society Journal, Vol. 12, No. 1, ISSN 0962-449X, pp 20 - 30.

Kothalawala, A, B, (2005), Distribution and population status of Theraphosid spiders (Araneae) of forests covers of Rathnapura district, Final Report, pp13- 15.

Perera, P. M, (2010), A Guide to Sri Lankan spiders, unpublished literature.

Perera, P. M, (2007),Observed diversity and distribution of Spiders in Monaragala District, Thesis of Wildlife Conservation & Management, the Open University of Sri Lanka, pp 4-8.

Perera, P. M, (2009) Poecilotheria tarantulas of Sri Lanka, Thesis of Biodiversity Management, pp 1, 16.

Perera, P. M (2012), Distribution, Ecology and Morphology of a New Poecilotheria Species of Sri Lanka, BSc Dissertation, school of science University of Greenwich United Kingdom, pp 8-32.

Pocock R. I, (1900), Fauna of British India including Ceylon and Burma, Arachnida, Today and tomorrow printers and publishers, New Delhi, India, pp 24-25.

Samarawckrama V. A. M. P. K, Janananda M. D. B. G, Ranawana K. B, and Smith A, (2005), Study of the distribution of the genus Poecilotheria of the family theraphosidae in Sri Lanka, Ceylon Journal of Science, (Bio. Sci.), Vol 34, pp 75-86.

Smith A and Kirk P, (2001), A field guide design to support Indian and Sri Lankan Poecilotheria workshop, based on material from: Poecilotheria- The ornamental Tarantulas of India and Sri Lanka, Fitzgerald publication.

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