Ornithoctoninae
| Ornithoctoninae | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Cobalt blue tarantula | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Suborder: | Mygalomorphae |
| Family: | Theraphosidae |
| Subfamily: |
Ornithoctoninae Pocock, 1895 |
| Genera | |
Ornithoctoninae, also known as earth tigers, are a subfamily of Asian tarantulas, which were first erected in 1895 by Reginald Innes Pocock on basis of the genotype Ornithoctonus andersoni described in 1892 from former Burma, now Myanmar.
The Ornithoctoninae is a theraphosid sub-family, which are widely distributed in Asia from Myanmar to South China in the north and as far as to Halmahera in the Indonesian archipelago in the south, and in all the ranges in between. Most species in the subfamily live fossorially in burrows, though there are several species which are living arboreally in trees. They are known as defensive spiders; when disturbed they will quickly retreat into their burrows or dig themselves into the soil. When neither is a possibility, they will assume a defensive posture. When provoked, they will strike the aggressor repeatedly with the anterior legs; if the aggressor does not retreat these spiders has been known to bite. Though not deadly, the effects of the venom can be very unpleasant including pain, swelling and arthritis like stiffness in the joints of the extremity affected.
The theraphosid subfamily Ornithoctoninae is defined by the following combination of characters. Presence of retrolateral scopula of filiform setae on the cheliceral base. a small row of larger filiform paddle setae retrolaterally ventro-basally in connection to the retrolateral cheliceral scopula. Arrangement of stridulatory spines prolaterally on maxilla. The character of retrolateral scopula of filiform setae on the cheliceral base is shared by the African subfamily Harpactirinae, but the Ornithoctoninae can be distinguished from the Harpactirinae by the geographic distribution range and the presence of the other characters mentioned, which are lacking in the Harpactirinae.
Specimens from the genera Haplopelma, Cyriopagopus, and Ornithoctonus are frequently kept as pets. The most commonly kept species are: Haplopelma albostriatum, H. hainanum, H. lividum, H. longipes, H. minax, H. schmidti, Ornithoctonus aureotibialis and Cyriopagopus schioedtei. More species are kept and new species enters the hobby every now and then, but most of this material needs to be properly identified or described.
Haplopelma and Ornithoctonus are burrow-dwellers. A high soil level (at least 15 cm, or 6") is necessary for them to be able to successfully dig burrows. This behavior is described by von Wirth and Huber in the "Haplopelma-tanks" (2002, 2004), which also recommends frequently watering the cage. Alternatively, one can create a "fauna box" by filling up a cage (as high as possible, up to a few centimeters below the top) with potting soil, one can place (as high as possible) a "fauna box", which one fills up with potting soil, coconut compost, or a peat moss mixture. However this method is less advantageous than the method recommended in the Haplopelma Spezialbecken. Temperatures of 23°–25 °C are sufficient.
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